Team Members
Our team comprises our management team, our excellent instrumental tutors and our fantastic residential team.
Lewis Gaston
Musical Director
Lewis Gaston works as a conductor in the UK and abroad. His work has been recognised in International Competitions…
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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 especially…
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Russell Crann
Course Director
Russell first played French Horn with the English Schools’ Orchestra as a Mentor in its inaugural year in 1994…
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Ellen Crann
Assistant Director (Students)
Ellen joined the English School’s Orchestra in 2017 to organise and develop the Orchestra’s Composing Competition …
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Robert Pepper OBE
Artistic Director
Robert studied conducting with George Hurst and Arthur Davison and has worked extensively with…
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James Widden
Strings Tutor and Assistant Conductor
James studied at Newcastle and Sussex Universities, and then as a postgraduate at Trinity College of Music…
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Emma Crossley
Violin Tutor
Emma graduated from the University of Manchester with First Class Honours, and a Distinction for Postgraduate…
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Ruth Cohen-Scheer
Viola Tutor
Ruth studied at Oxford Univerity, followed by a Post-Graduate Diploma in Viola at the Royal Northern College of Music…
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Jonathan Gibson
Cello Tutor
Jonathan is an alumnus of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (MMus, Cello) and the University…
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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 studied…
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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’ Orchestra…
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Neil Crossley
Woodwind Tutor
Neil is a professional musician who combines performing, teaching, directing and writing. He studied clarinet and saxophone at…
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Megan Roberts
Lower Brass Tutor
Megan is a Trombonist and graduate of The Royal College of Music, London. Originally from Hull, Megan moved to…
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William Riby
Percussion Tutor
Will started studying Percussion at Chetham’s School of Music and then went on to study a performance degree…
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