Shaken up by the departure of Mark Messenger as head of strings, the Royal College of Music has revamped its violin teaching for the new school year.

Soloist Jennifer Pike has joined as full professor, alongside Peter Manning, former leader of the Royal Opera House Orchestra. Also collecting new mortarboards are violinists Mathilde Milwidsky and Alexander Gilman.

And Richard Harwood, lately principal cellist of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, has been appointed cello professor. James Williams, incoming Director of the Royal College of Music, was CEO of the RPO where Harwood played.