A teenage musician ‘froze’ when an internationally-renowned professor groped her as she performed her violin on the world’s greatest music college, a courtroom has been advised.
Jan Repko, 66, was standing behind the 18-year-old as she performed when he allegedly undid her trousers and assaulted her earlier than asking her ‘how the expertise felt’.
She initially advised her mom and the police that Repko had solely touched her backside as a result of she felt ’embarrassed and ashamed’ concerning the incident on the Royal School of Music in Kensington, Southwark Crown Courtroom heard.
The South Africa-born professor of Fulham, southwest London, denies prices of sexual assault and assault by penetration and described the allegations in opposition to him as ‘absurd’ following his arrest.
Nneka Akudolu, KC, prosecuting, advised the courtroom that Repko had requested ‘Might I?’ earlier than starting his assault on July 1, 2022.
However she believed he had requested her whether or not he may contact her hand.
‘She stated that he steered leaning again on her heels and standing straight like a plank of wooden.
‘She stated he positioned one hand on her waist and one other on her backside. At this level he was standing behind her.
Jan Repko, 66, was standing behind the violinist as she performed when he allegedly undid her trousers and assaulted her, jurors heard
Repko, who additionally taught at Chetham’s Faculty of Music and the Royal Northern School of Music in Manchester, denies one rely of sexual assault and one among assault by penetration
‘She may, she stated, really feel his breath close to to her ear. Shocked, and never figuring out how to reply to the state of affairs, she continued taking part in.
‘He positioned his hand over her crotch space earlier than undoing her trousers and inserting his finger into her vagina.
‘She made a mistake within the piece after which froze.
‘She stated he invited her to sit down down and he requested her how the expertise had felt, to which she replied, ‘uncomfortable’.’
‘What struck her is simply how regular his behaviour was having skilled what he had simply achieved.’
{The teenager} advised police that Repko had promised her that Royal School of Music could be one of the best place for her to review to reinforce her capacity.
{The teenager} was requested by officers why she had not initially revealed the intimate nature of the assault.
‘She had solely advised her mom that he had touched her backside as a result of she was so embarrassed and ashamed,’ stated the prosecutor.
However after the alleged assault she had advised a pal that Repko touched her backside, and her pal steered she contact the police, the courtroom heard.
Repko taught on the Royal School of Music, and has additionally spent 5 years as concertmaster of the Northern Philharmonic Orchestra within the Netherlands
The pal stated the woman was ‘reluctant as a result of the defendant was so influential, and that if she made a grievance it may jeopardise her profession.’
When interviewed by police, Repko denied the allegations and steered ‘anybody may have walked into the room at any time’, Ms Akudolu stated.
‘He stated that she appeared completely glad when he parted firm together with her on the tube station, and that she was pleasant and chatty.’
Repko, who additionally taught at Chetham’s Faculty of Music and the Royal Northern School of Music in Manchester, denies one rely of sexual assault and one among assault by penetration.
The RCM, established in 1883, is ranked because the world’s main establishment for performing arts.
Alumni embrace classical composers Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughan Williams and theatre boss Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber.
The late Queen was additionally patron of the school whereas King Charles III is the RCM’s president.
Repko studied violin with Jack de Moist, performing as a soloist and in chamber ensembles, and has been invited to provide masterclasses everywhere in the world.
He spent 5 years as concertmaster of the Northern Philharmonic Orchestra within the Netherlands and is a co-founder of the Netherlands Youth String Orchestra.
The trial continues.
