Chamber-musician, solo-cellist, orchestral principal and renowned teacher, Richard Lester was a member of the award-winning Florestan Trio, a founder-member of the ensemble Domus and was a member of Hausmusik and the London Haydn Quartet.

He was principal cello with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and has been principal with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe since 1989. Currently, he is a member of the Gould Piano Trio with whom he co-curates an annual festival in Corbridge, Northumberland.

He has made over forty discs of chamber music, including the complete works of Mendelssohn for cello and piano, and a disc of Boccherini sonatas on period instruments. Together with violinist Anthony Marwood, he is co-director of the Peasmarsh Chamber Music Festival in East Sussex. He teaches at the Royal College of Music in London.

When not performing or teaching, Richard is happiest cooking, eating and drinking, preferably on a boat.