Sam McNally*

Bio

Sam McNally is a passionate performer and educator originally from Calgary, Alberta. Based in Victoria since 2022, Sam is the 3rd horn of the Victoria Symphony and teaches horn and chamber music at both the University of Victoria and Victoria Conservatory of Music. Outside of the Victoria Symphony, he is regularly involved in various projects including chamber music, recording sessions, and solo recitals. From 2015 until 2026 (minus a stint to study), Sam was the principal horn of the Kamloops Symphony and served as acting principal horn of the Okanagan Symphony between 2019 and 2022. Since 2025 he has appeared as extra with the Vancouver Symphony and was offered a one-year contract for the 2026/27 season.

Sam began his studies with Laurie Matiation at the Mount Royal Conservatory in Calgary and holds a Bachelor’s of Music from the University of Victoria (’17) where he studied with Kurt Kellan. He attained a Master’s Degree from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (’18) where he studied with David Pyatt, Alec Frank-Gemmill, Sue Dent, and Nico Fleury.

Sam holds gratitude at the centre of all that he does, be it for the opportunities afforded him, the colleagues and students with whom works, or the wonderful world of music in which he gets to live. When not working, Sam enjoys reading, cooking (eating), playing video games poorly, and spending time with his wife, McKaila, and their cat, Spooky.

* Contract