Cellist Peter Martens holds a PhD from Stellenbosch University where he is Director of the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival. He studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and returned to South Africa in 1993. Formally principal cellist of The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, he is a member of the Amici String Quartet and enjoys playing in chamber music festivals worldwide. Concerto engagements have resulted in collaborations with a number of fine conductors including Bernhard Gueller, Victor Yampolsky, Douglas Boyd, Nicholas Cleobury and Jonas Alber. His CD recordings of the Beethoven Cello Sonatas, the Bach Cello Suites and Allan Stephenson’s Cello Concerto have received critical acclaim internationally.