PETER Cropper was an awesome violinist.

Founder member of one of the world's greatest string quartets, The Lindsays, he was a regular and influential presence at many a Bowness Theatre Festival at the Old Laundry, both with The Lindsays, and following their demise, with his Music in the Round, where he teamed up on many an occasion with pianist Martin Roscoe, cellist Moray Welsh and other musical friends.

Sadly, the great virtuoso and passionate string player died in 2015 aged 69, but his name quite rightly lives on in the Bowness theatre's annual festival programme with the Peter Cropper Concert performed as part of the Martin Roscoe and Friends weekend of glorious chamber masterpieces, staged from Friday until Sunday, December 1-3.

Eleven wonderful works by 11 different great composers will be performed by Martin with Benjamin Nabarro, Moray Welsh, John Bradbury, Graham Oppenheimer and Dan Storer.

Martin needs little introduction. Ulverston based, he has become one of the UK's best loved and most versatile pianists with a career spanning four decades. He is equally at home in concerto, recital and chamber performances.

Cellist Moray Welsh has had an extremely distinguished career as soloist and chamber music player. He has toured across the world as a soloist with several UK orchestras and his records range from a disc of Baroque Concertos to several records of contemporary music, including the Hugh Wood Concerto, which was selected as a Record of the Year by the Sunday Times.

As well as being principal bass with Sinfonia Viva, Dan Storer is co-principal bass with the Halle Orchestra and principal bass with Manchester Camerata and Lancashire Sinfonietta. As principal bass with the European Chamber Orchestra he has played in more than 50 countries.

As a chamber musician Dan has taken part in recitals, recordings and many international festivals and is a regular with the Camerata Ensemble.

Joining the distinguished ensemble on clarinet is John Bradbury. His orchestral career began in the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, followed by the London Symphony Orchestra. In 1997 he became principal clarinet with the BBC Philharmonic and often guests with the Philharmonia, LSO and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. John also teaches at Chetham’s School of Music.

Graham Oppenheimer is one of the UK’s foremost and respected violists. As a soloist he has performed with orchestras such as the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony, East of England Orchestra and Lapeenranta Symphony Orchestra in Finland. He has appeared in chamber music with such artists as Yehudi Menuhin, Paul Tortellier, James Galway, Murray Perahia and Jack Brymer, and was also violist and founder of the Schidlof Quartet.

Graham founded the Leicester International Music Festival and is founder and artistic director of the Lincoln International Chamber Music Festival.

Another outstanding musician, Benjamin Nabarro has appeared as soloist or guest concertmaster with many of the UK's top orchestras and was a regular guest first violin of the Nash Ensemble, where he has appeared in concerts worldwide. He has made numerous recording for Hyperion and Dutton and made his conducting debut in 2012 Nuremberg Festival.

Benjamin is a member of the Leonore Piano Trio, together with cellist Gemma Rosefield and pianist Tim Horton. As part of his work with Music in the Round and Ensemble 360, he played Piazzola's Four Seasons, coaching and playing alongside a group of young string players from Sheffield schools.

Tickets for the three Martin Roscoe and Friends performances are available from the Old Laundry box office on 015394-40872.