Born in London in 1981, Samuel studied the viola with Richard Crabtree at Trinity College of Music. After graduating with a First Class Honours degree and a Postgraduate Diploma with Distinction in 2004, he had a year with Southbank Sinfonia, before a successful trial led to him joining the Philharmonia Orchestra. He was recently offered the position of Joint Principal Viola with Opera North, and is currently on trial with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales for their principal viola position.

Samuel is in demand as a chamber musician; he is a member of the Taliesin String Quartet, and recent performances with the Melchior Ensemble and the Philharmonia Orchestra Chamber Ensemble have taken him to venues across Britain and to Uruguay. His performances as soloist and recitalist have included major works by Walton, Mozart, Berlioz, Telemann, Britten, Schubert, Brahms and Bach. He also works regularly as conductor with St. Paul's Sinfonia in Deptford, with whom he has performed works by Haydn, Kopecek, Beethoven and Mozart.

Aside from music, Samuel's great love is sport. He is an Arsenal season ticket holder, and he travelled to South Africa to support the heroic British and Irish Lions rugby tour. He is a shameless participant of karaoke, and spends significant periods of time studying the effects of good beer, good wine and good whisky on the heart and soul.

Samuel has appeared in the following Philharmonia films: