Stephane Crayton

Stephane is a violinist, composer, and scholar based in Cambridge, UK. Performing on both modern and baroque violins, Stephane brings a rich blend of historical insight and innovative artistry to his music-making. He joined the Cambridge String Quartet in 2022.

An Affiliated Lecturer at the University of Cambridge and a teacher at the Royal Academy of Music’s junior department, Stephane balances his academic and performance careers. His research focuses on musical meaning, particularly in the French long eighteenth century, and informs his dynamic approach to both composition and performance. His PhD (University of Cambridge, King's College) was Out of Order, an examination of the expressive operations of disorder.

As a composer, Stephane writes for diverse ensembles, blending old and new traditions to examine the social dynamics of performance. His work has been performed live and recorded by leading ensembles, including the CBSO. In 2016, he co-founded rites, a collective reimagining the conventions of the concert hall. The group’s recent interdisciplinary project, 3 Dreams, weaves music, lecture, and Dante’s recitations, toured extensively in the UK and Italy.

Outside the concert hall, Stephane writes on topics ranging from street criers to William Hogarth’s graphic works. He can often be found in the dark room, indulging his love of analogue photography.