Professor at Royal music college quits as misconduct claim upheld
A SENIOR professor at Britain’s most prestigious music school has resigned after complaints of gross misconduct against him were upheld.
Mark Messenger, 59, an acclaimed violinist and conductor, resigned as Head of Strings at the Royal College of Music (RCM) during his disciplinary hearing.
He had been suspended since last year following allegations about his behaviour. The college has refused to give details about the complaints.
Last night Mr Messenger said: ‘I decided to resign due to health issues that were a direct consequence of how the RCM had pursued this case against me.
‘I had no confidence in a process that did not afford me my basic rights of being able to defend myself, nor in the outcome of a meeting that was not in possession of all the facts.
‘Any implication that I resigned because of the outcome of the disciplinary process or that the college terminated my employment is entirely erroneous.’
His suspension last year sent shockwaves through the classical music world. Cellist Julian Webber, brother of impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber and who studied at the college, called on classical academies and conservatoires to end one-to-one music teaching. He said: ‘There is no need for one-toone teaching. Groups of three are the best size for any lesson. It would mean there was much more openness and accountability.’
But violinist Lara St John said: ‘The idea of no one-to-one teaching is putting the policing of wayward teachers on the shoulders of the students. It is not a solution.’
RCM director Colin Lawson revealed Mr Messenger’s departure in an email to staff and students. He said that after an independent investigation, ‘the disciplinary process upheld the complaints which constituted gross misconduct’.
He added: ‘Mark Messenger, Head of Strings, who resigned with immediate effect during his disciplinary hearing, is no longer employed by the RCM.’
Mr Messenger won a scholarship to study at the RCM. Aged just 17 he was appointed violin professor at Goldsmiths College in London.
In 1997 he was made Head of String studies at Colchester Institute of Music before taking his RCM post in 2002. His website says he ‘travels the globe as performer, teacher, consultant and examiner’.
RCM alumni include Ralph Vaughan Williams and Benjamin Britten and it has some 900 students from 50 countries.
It has announced changes to internal processes so that future complaints are dealt with ‘as simply and safely as possible’.