The Stamford shop team
Introducing you to our shop team working at Stamford Strings, with complementary skills and talents.
Libby summers
DIRECTOR, violin maker, VIOLINIST
Founder and Director of Stamford Strings, Libby Summers graduated from The Newark School of Violin Making in 2020 after four years of study. Prior to this she had a successful career as a knitwear designer and is a published author. As well as being trained in repairs, restoration, making and bow repairs, Libby is a violin teacher with over 20 years experience. Her depth of understanding of the instrument and student requirements enhances her making and servicing skills, and her ability to respond to client's needs and expectations.
Libby will turn her hand to anything in the workshop to meet customer requirements but her special strengths are set ups and retouching. She particularly enjoys fitting new pegs, varnishing, cutting bridges and making repair work disappear with her artist's palette. Libby is a member of the BVMA and ran their social media for several years. She is now Chair of The RAB Trust, a prestigious charity that raises funds and makes awards to violin making students each year.
Libby will turn her hand to anything in the workshop to meet customer requirements but her special strengths are set ups and retouching. She particularly enjoys fitting new pegs, varnishing, cutting bridges and making repair work disappear with her artist's palette. Libby is a member of the BVMA and ran their social media for several years. She is now Chair of The RAB Trust, a prestigious charity that raises funds and makes awards to violin making students each year.
Charlotte mcauliffe
Cello Consultant, Cellist
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Charlotte studied at the Royal Academy of Music, with Heather Harrison. She continued her studies at the Royal Northern College of Music with Chris Hoyle, Head of Strings. Charlotte lives in Peterborough, where she juggles life as mother to Felix and Poppy with a busy musical career. She particularly enjoys working as a chamber musician and adjudicator and has performed solo concerts in venues including San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, Peterborough Cathedral, Chichester Cathedral and Oundle School as part of the Oundle International Festival. Charlotte is often engaged as a session musician and has appeared on ITV’s The X Factor live shows, as well as music videos and adverts. Charlotte also teaches the ‘cello at her former school: The King’s School Peterborough. Charlotte adores the cello because of its rich sonority and believes sound and tonal quality is everything when it comes to playing a string instrument. She has been enjoying playing the beautiful cellos at Stamford Strings and working with Libby to bring them up to and keep them at their peak playing condition.
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Rachel Spence
apprentice violin maker and restorer
Rachel Spence is a luthier and violist from the Scottish Highlands. She is currently training as a violin maker and restorer at the Newark School of Violin Making, and works as an apprentice at Stamford Strings. A first-class graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London, she studied under Martin Outram. During her time at the Academy she received the Sir Elton John Scholarship, won the Viola and String Quartet Prizes, and held an Open Academy Fellowship.
As a performer, Rachel has appeared at festivals including the Verbier Festival and the BBC Proms, and freelances with ensembles such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Piccadilly Sinfonietta. She feels fortunate to now be fulfilling her long-held dream of learning to make and repair string instruments as well as playing them. In her free time she enjoys climbing, running, and cryptic crosswords.
As a performer, Rachel has appeared at festivals including the Verbier Festival and the BBC Proms, and freelances with ensembles such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Piccadilly Sinfonietta. She feels fortunate to now be fulfilling her long-held dream of learning to make and repair string instruments as well as playing them. In her free time she enjoys climbing, running, and cryptic crosswords.
nigel melfi
restorer and maker, tool maker
Trained at Newark School of Violin Making and with Philip Brown Violins in Newbury, Nigel brings a wealth of experience in violin making and restoring, as well as teaching and tool making. He makes beautiful planes for makers which he ships all over the world.
Having spent many years working at The Newark School of Violin Making as the technician and a teacher, he is Stamford Strings' workshop technician, in charge of sharpening, and can turn his hand to anything engineering related.
Nigel makes the most beautiful violins. He lives near Newark with his wife and is a breeder of French Spaniels. He loves walking his dogs and flying his Falcon.
Having spent many years working at The Newark School of Violin Making as the technician and a teacher, he is Stamford Strings' workshop technician, in charge of sharpening, and can turn his hand to anything engineering related.
Nigel makes the most beautiful violins. He lives near Newark with his wife and is a breeder of French Spaniels. He loves walking his dogs and flying his Falcon.
Susie Summers
bookkeeper
Behind every successful business is a talented bookkeeper. Susie is a qualified bookkeeper and is Libby's sister.
Susie is also a prize-winning pianist and alumna of the Royal Academy of Music and Cambridge University, whose career has included performances and broadcasts across the UK and internationally, including BBC Radio 3, BBC2, BBC4 and ABC Radio Australia.
Susie has performed at our Brazenose Chamber Concerts and is the official accompanist for the Brazenose Violin Competition 2026.
Susie is also a prize-winning pianist and alumna of the Royal Academy of Music and Cambridge University, whose career has included performances and broadcasts across the UK and internationally, including BBC Radio 3, BBC2, BBC4 and ABC Radio Australia.
Susie has performed at our Brazenose Chamber Concerts and is the official accompanist for the Brazenose Violin Competition 2026.