Michael Aston held an Exhibition for music at Cambridge University. After a short career in the Civil Service, he moved to Leeds, in 1979, and began a career as a freelance musician. A pianist specializing in accompaniment and piano duos, he taught piano and became involved in continuing education, presenting courses for the universities of Manchester, Nottingham, and Cambridge. He is a lifelong enthusiast for the music of William Walton, and has lectured widely on the subject and visited the Walton estate in Italy. He has written about Walton for Classical Music magazine and edited a volume of the William Walton Edition, published by Oxford University Press. He is the compiler of four volumes of piano duets published by OUP.

David Owen Norris is a pianist, broadcaster, teacher, and composer. The first recipient of the Gilmore Artist Award, he has achieved international acclaim as a concert pianist, recording a rich variety of music as both a soloist and accompanist. Norris has also presented a number of radio series, including BBC Radio 4's Playlist.