the son of australian painter george lambert and his wife amy, and the younger brother of maurice lambert, constant lambert was educated at christ's hospital and the royal college of music. his teachers at the latter institution were ralph vaughan williams, r. o. morris and sir george dyson (composition), malcolm sargent (conducting) and herbert fryer (piano). while still a boy he demonstrated formidable musical gifts. he wrote his first orchestral works at the age of 13, and at 20 received a commission to write a ballet for sergei diaghilev's ballets russes ("romeo and juliet").