Martin Cropper was born into a musical family, and until the age of 5, he assumed that everybody played the violin! He grew up in Sheffield, studying with his mother Nina Martin, until he was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music. He has always been a keen chamber musician and has just completed a cycle of Beethoven Sonatas with his duo partner, Anne Bolt. Martin has always been interested in education, particularly other peoples’. He is now in his eighth year as Head of Strings at Oakham School, where he enjoys the variety of individual tuition, coaching chamber ensembles and conducting the Chamber Orchestra. In 2011, Martin’s students were awarded scholarships to nearly all of the major music colleges in England.

Richard Jenkinson

Anne Bolt was educated at Oxford University, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and with the help of a Fulbright Scholarship, completed a Master's degree at Indiana University with Menahem Pressler. Having taught at Alleyn's School in Dulwich and Uppingham School, she joined the staff at Oakham School in 2006, becoming Head of Piano in 2008. Anne's time at Oakham is spent teaching piano to all levels and rehearsing throughout the week with pupils in preparation for concerts and exams. She is particularly passionate about chamber music and loves encouraging as many of the piano pupils as possible to enter the annual duet competition. Her aim is to get to 100% participation!