A former violin instructor at the Royal College of Music (RCM) facing allegations of sexual assault against a prospective student claimed that he was demonstrating techniques to enhance her playing skills.
Jan Repko, a 68-year-old South Africa-born individual, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman during a consultation lesson in 2022.
During the session at Southwark Crown Court, it was revealed that Repko met the complainant for a trial violin performance, which was intended as a preview of his teaching style.
The accusations against Repko include inappropriate touching, with claims that he touched the woman’s waist, bottom, and crotch area, and proceeded to assault her.
Apart from RCM, Repko has also taught at Chetham’s School of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. He is currently on trial facing charges of sexual assault by touching and assault by penetration.
In his testimony to the jury, Repko explained that the exercises he provided during the lesson were aimed at helping the student relax and enhance her technique.
One of the techniques involved a hand positioning exercise on the violin to promote relaxation in the hand, as demonstrated by Repko to the jury.
When questioned about his actions during the lesson, Repko clarified that he remained seated throughout the demonstration, emphasizing that standing up was unnecessary.
He praised the student for quickly grasping the techniques, describing her as intelligent and responsive to instructions.
Repko highlighted that the exercises were primarily intended to relax the student’s body, including correcting her posture by standing upright and leaning back.
The court heard conflicting testimonies about the alleged assault, with the student claiming that Repko touched her inappropriately during an exercise, while Repko insisted that he had sought permission and explained his actions beforehand.
Despite the ongoing trial, Repko maintains his innocence, denying the charges brought against him.
The Royal College of Music, established in 1883, has been recognized as a top institution for performing arts education globally in 2022.
The trial proceedings are continuing as the case unfolds.
