Team Members

Our team comprises our management team, our excellent instrumental tutors and our fantastic residential team.

Lewis Gaston

Lewis Gaston

Musical Director

Lewis Gaston works as a conductor in the UK and abroad. His work has been recognised in International Competitionsmore
Dr Diane Davies MBE

Dr Diane Davies MBE

Orchestra Manager
Diane is the Orchestra’s Manager and has been since its beginning in 1994. She has always been one to volunteer especiallymore
Russell Crann

Russell Crann

Course Director

Russell first played French Horn with the English Schools’ Orchestra as a Mentor in its inaugural year in 1994more
Ellen Crann

Ellen Crann

Assistant Director (Students)
Ellen joined the English School’s Orchestra in 2017 to organise and develop the Orchestra’s Composing Competition more
Robert Pepper OBE

Robert Pepper OBE

Artistic Director

Robert studied conducting with George Hurst and Arthur Davison and has worked extensively withmore
James Widden

James Widden

Strings Tutor and Assistant Conductor
James studied at Newcastle and Sussex Universities, and then as a postgraduate at Trinity College of Musicmore
Emma Crossley

Emma Crossley

Violin Tutor

Emma graduated from the University of Manchester with First Class Honours, and a Distinction for Postgraduatemore
Ruth Cohen-Scheer

Ruth Cohen-Scheer

Viola Tutor

Ruth studied at Oxford Univerity, followed by a Post-Graduate Diploma in Viola at the Royal Northern College of Musicmore
Jonathan Gibson

Jonathan Gibson

Cello Tutor

Jonathan is an alumnus of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (MMus, Cello) and the Universitymore
Mark Lipski

Mark Lipski

Double Bass Tutor

Mark started playing double bass at 13, after finding the guitar and bass guitar too easy to carry around. He studiedmore
Rosie Burton

Rosie Burton

Woodwind Tutor & Assistant Course Director
Rosie is a professional bassoonist and teacher based on the Wirral. Rosie was a member of the English Schools’ Orchestramore
Neil Crossley

Neil Crossley

Woodwind Tutor

Neil is a professional musician who combines performing, teaching, directing and writing. He studied clarinet and saxophone atmore
Megan Roberts

Megan Roberts

Lower Brass Tutor

Megan is a Trombonist and graduate of The Royal College of Music, London. Originally from Hull, Megan moved tomore
William Riby

William Riby

Percussion Tutor

Will started studying Percussion at Chetham’s School of Music and then went on to study a performance degreemore