Violin professor charged with sexual assault

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Violin professor Jan Repko appeared in court on Saturday 18 Feburary charged with sexual assault following an incident that took place in July 2022. 

Repko, 64, faces a single charge of sexual assault by penetration and will appear at Southwark Crown Court on 17 March. He is yet to enter a plea, and is expected to be arraigned during his appearance. 

The alleged offence is said to have taken place in the Borough of Westminster against a woman over the age of 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons. 

The Metropolitan Police said: ’The charge relates to an incident which took place in July 2022 in Westminster and was reported to police the same month.

’Officers from the central west command arrested Repko on August 10, 2022 and charged him on Friday, February 17.’

According to PA media, Repko is currently on bail after paying £15,000 security and is subject to an electronically tagged curfew between 9pm and 6am. His bail conditions also prevent him from contacting any former or current students and he cannot enter the Royal College of Music (RCM), one of his former colleges, without prior written permission. 

Repko has previously taught at Chetham’s School of Music, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester (RNCM).

RCM’s director for communcations Talia Hull told The Strad: ’Following an allegation in July 2022, Jan Repko was suspended and following an internal disciplinary process he was later dismissed.’ He has been removed from all UK teaching positions in light of the allegations. 

Repko’s charge brings classical music’s history of sexual abuse back into the spotlight. In 2014, police led a widespread investigation into nine current or former teachers at both the RNCM and Chetham’s School of Music leading to the convictions of Michael Brewer and Duncan McTier. In 2021, Chetham’s was ordered to pay £45,000 in damages to a former pupil who alleged she was subject to sex abuse at the school.