Exclusive: Royal College removes a violin professor
NewsIn response to our enquiry this morning, the Royal College of Music has issued a statement about the distinguished violin professor Jan Repko. The statement reads:
Mr Repko is no longer employed by the RCM.
We understand from independent sources that his departure relates to an alleged incident reported by a student during an online teaching session. As is often the case in one-on-one online teaching, it can be one person’s word against another’s.
We have been unable to contact Mr Repko for a response and make no imputation of wrongdoing on his part.
Repko’s name has also abruptly vanished from the staff list of Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester.
South African born, Repko studied violin with Jack de Wet and later with Davina van Wely at the Sweelinck Conservatoire in Amsterdam. He also credits Nathan Milstein, Dorothy DeLay, Victor Lieberman and Berl Senofsky. Repko spent five years as concertmaster of the Northern Philharmonic Orchestra in the Netherlands, before deciding to focus on teaching. Repko is a co-founder of the Netherlands Youth String Orchestra.
We have been unable to contact him for a response.
“As is often the case in one-on-one online teaching, it can be one person’s word against another’s.”
Odd remark: on-line interactions are much more likely to be recorded than in-person interactions, or at minimum, far more easily recordable, as all those zoom videos during the pandemic demonstrated of idiots parading around without pants…on purpose or not.
If the prof resigned and got fired this quickly, there must be an embarrassing video soon to make its way to tweeter or tiktok for all to snicker over.
Not everybody records their Zoom meetings, silly!
Not a zoom meeting …. a zoom lesson… with points to go over and be be remembered….own performance to be listened to…
I’m pretty sure you need consent to record a Zoom lesson, Pat.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/royal-college-of-music-london-alfie-boe-south-africa-borough-b2285682.html
Yes, indeed. For what exactly was fired? Was it a micro-aggression, like raising an eyebrow at the wrong time? Was it unconscious racism? Or did he quote Schenker or Harry Potter? Or was something said in anger after his being provoked by a student?
I find it disturbing that one can summarily lose one’s livelihood for increasingly trivial reasons and when prosecuting counsel is Facebook or Twitter.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/royal-college-of-music-london-alfie-boe-south-africa-borough-b2285682.html
Firing someone like Repko before they’ve been found guilty sounds like institutional reputation management with little concern for the truth.
Hear hear
Unfortunately Jan Repko, as is widely known in UK circles (at his teaching posts at Chets, RCM, and RBC), was known for his inappropriate behaviour towards female students. His comeuppance is long overdue.
This is malicious nonsense.
It’s not.
I can’t speak about allegations of sexual misconduct. but I can personally vouch (as an one-time colleague) for at least four incidences of serious bullying, and for two official complaints lodged. Repko is a very successful and effective teacher, a magnet for students and thus very highly valued by institutions. He was thus allowed a good deal of leeway and allegations and complaints brushed aside. I have no idea what happened on this occasion, but for two institutions to remove him apparently simultaneously argues it was something not only serious, but that there was convincing evidence.
It is high time that successful people (one can think of so many) are no longer allowed to get away with behaviours that for most of us would lead to much earlier and justified sanctions, simply because they are of economic or reputational value to institutions.
“Former colleague” throwing mud. Unsubstantiated, of course.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/royal-college-of-music-london-alfie-boe-south-africa-borough-b2285682.html
Charges aren’t proof and don’t substantiate former colleague’s allegations. Which colleagues? Which incidents? Who at Chets, RCM, and RBC decided not to take action on the two complaints that were allegedly lodged? Why not? We’ll only know the full story after the court has assessed the facts of the case. Also, the Independent link has been posted multiple times in this comment thread. Please stop spamming us, Happycamper. Let’s not jump to any hasty conclusions. If guilty, Repko will be sanctioned. If not, he should be reinstated.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/royal-college-of-music-london-alfie-boe-south-africa-borough-b2285682.html
You really are a poison spreader. One accusation in how many decades of teaching? The man has not even been on trial and is found guilty by social media muck spreaders. Shame on you!
Along with no job security, teachers have no protection from this kind of attack. That has to stop.
Isn’t that the school that expelled David Garrett? Royal College of Music. Promoting artistic mediocracy since 1882
Agreed: link to official statement please
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/royal-college-of-music-london-alfie-boe-south-africa-borough-b2285682.html
Doesn’t need any comment…once again, I hope more statements will follow…
How many times do you need to post this link in the comments?
Until you guys stop defending lifelong sexual predators.
We “guys” and girls are defending basic human rights. On the basis of complaints lodged by former colleagues ( please state the specific complaints so we all know what really happend) and an ALLEGED violation you are crusifying a person. Where is the evidence? You calling him a life long sexual predator makes you the predator.
How dare you asume you know a person based on hear say. Stick to the facts, your so malevicent.
What are you on about? The court will decide Repko’s guilt and fate based on the evidence.
As a former colleague of Repko I was well aware of his constant aggressive bullying, but the sexual component has come as shock. In the past I have heard him shouting at students in a very aggressive manner, seen at least two leave his room in tears, one who left his class for mine reported that he had on occasion hit students. He was an extremely effective and successful teacher, which meant that one institution at which we both worked brushed aside reported concerns. This is not hearsay, but (apart from the report about hitting) my own personal observed experience
Dear “Former Colleague “,
I hear that you are very serious in a sincere way, that makes me hopeful. I beg you, when you know more, or you think you have information that could be helpful to other victims, girls, women, who currently are afraid to step forward, please help them and support them. Please believe me, I know what I am talking about, this case with its history of (both sexual and psychological) abuse should finally come to justice for all of the victims. It just needs strong people who are willing to step forward, instead of staying afraid all the time or covering up (other colleagues/principals/parents/fellow students.
Please, if you have any knowledge about this, help the victims to reach out to the metropolitan police in London.
Did you report these incidents, former colleague?
Why do you have your knife in for Jan Repko? You seem determined to bring him down and smear him at every opportunity all over social media. If you do want to gain some credibility I would encourage you to reseach how many teachers are falsely accused by pupils these days and how many are leaving the profession.
Indeed, Clarissa. I have known Repko for almost 20 years. I know many of his pupils. I know him as a demanding but kind, supportive, dedicated and generous teacher. I do not recognise the man described in some of these derogatory comments.