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
Natalie Johnson-Hyde

Natalie Johnson-Hyde

Orchestral Manager
Natalie joined the English Schools’ Orchestra as Orchestral Manager in 2025. She grew up immersed in musicmore
Russell Crann

Russell Crann

Course Director
Russell first played French Horn with the English Schools’ Orchestra as a Mentor in its inaugural concert in 1995more
Dr Diane Davies MBE

Dr Diane Davies MBE

Honorary Treasurer
Diane was the Orchestra’s Manager since its inception in 1994. She has always been one to volunteer especially in a musicalmore
James Widden

James Widden

Strings Tutor and Asst. Conductor
James studied at Newcastle and Sussex Universities, and then as a postgraduate at Trinity College of Music, under the tutelagemore
Matthew Lloyd-Wilson

Matthew Lloyd-Wilson

Violin Tutor
Matthew Lloyd Wilson was born in 1999 and has been thoroughly immersed in music ever since. At the age of 11 he sang livemore
Emma Crossley

Emma Crossley

Violin Tutor
Emma graduated from the University of Manchester with First Class Honours, and a Distinction for Postgraduatemore
Hannah Teasdale

Hannah Teasdale

Viola Tutor
Hannah Teasdale graduated from the Royal Academy of Music with a 1st class (Hons) degree where she studied with Juan-Miguelmore
Jonathan Gibson

Jonathan Gibson

Cello Tutor
Jonathan is an alumnus of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (MMus, Cello) and the University of Manchestermore
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
Neil Crossley

Neil Crossley

Woodwind Tutor
Neil is a professional musician who combines performing, teaching, directing and writing. He studied clarinetmore
Lindsay Dubery

Lindsay Dubery

Lower Woodwind Tutor
Lindsay is a lively and energetic Bassoonist and contra bassoonist. She coaches in many schools mainly in Guildfordmore
Emily Burley

Emily Burley

French Horn Tutor
Emily is a french horn player and teacher based in London. She completed her undergraduate at the Guildhall Schoolmore
Roy Falshaw

Roy Falshaw

Trumpet Tutor
Roy enlisted into the Army as a Junior Musician at the age of sixteen. After service with various bands, he graduated from the Royalmore
David Whitson

David Whitson

Trombone Tutor
On graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, David worked with every orchestra in London and made recordingsmore
William Riby

William Riby

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