“It is important to remember that whilst the fundamental study of music and the principles of conducting remain central, it is in the fusion of the music, semantics and the examination of the psyche of the conductor that leads to a new level of self awareness and subsequently to new depths in our musical understanding. ”
Colin Metters
Colin Metters was appointed Head of Conducting at the Royal Academy of Music in 1983 to establish and direct a conducting programme to be internationally pre-eminent.
Across his thirty year tenure the course became recognised internationally as one of the foremost conductor training programmes with the New York Times in a review on music conservatoires, listed the RAM programme under Metters' leadership as “world renowned”.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Conductors' Course the Principal Jonathan Freeman-Attwood wrote:
“ I didn't want to pass up the opportunity to convey to Colin the huge sense of pride the Academy has in his remarkable accomplishments over a quarter of a century. Colin enables musicians from many traditions to develop and thrive, both as musicians and people. It is this ability to place himself in other people's shoes that has defined his role as one of the great conducting mentors.”
Below are a few representative testimonials from former students:
I could not have imagined or wished for a better teacher and mentor; someone with more intuition and dedication, insight and generosity. I count myself only too fortunate to have been your student Colin. For all this and much more, please accept my gratitude, love, thanks and admiration.”
Andrei Gocan
“An outstanding stepping stone to the professional world of orchestral conducting. Colin Metters' all-embracing approach, with a strong emphasis on the psychological and physiological aspect of the discipline has strongly shaped my conducting knowledge and experience.”
Maxime Tortelier
“I'm delighted to say that the postgraduate conducting course has far exceeded my expectations. Its reputation as one of the top conducting courses worldwide is not without reason. Most importantly, the course has allowed me the time to reflect and grow as a person and a musician. Colin Metters' holistic approach to reaching challenges us to consider not just the music but also the psychology of being a conductor.” Jessica Cottis
Class of 1998; André de Ridder, Michael Hall, Ed Gardner, Ludovic Morlot, CM, Jean-Christophe Charron, Judith Kubitz, Rumon Gamba
“Colin has turned Room 308 at the Academy into a universe of its own. He has combined the laws of nature together with philosophical and psychological issues to encompass the complete guide to the art and craft of conducting. He makes us understand how great our responsibility is, even though it requires monumental dedication we know that we are on the right path.”
Martin West, Gerry Cornelius, CM, Ivor Setterfield, Ilya Musin, David Gimenez-Carreras, Nicolae Moldoveanu, Juan Cantarell-Rocha
Peter Dyson, Ilya Musin, Colin Metters, Ivor Setterfield. 2nd row: Harry Curtis, Juan Cantarell-Rocha, Martin West, Ilan Volkov
The list of alumni across 30 years is impressive with many now holding major conducting positions with international orchestras, in opera houses, ballet companies and in musical theatre.
Here are some of them…
Richared Farnes, Ed Gardner, Rumon Gamba, Leo Hussain, Andre de Ridder, Danielle Rustioni, Ilan Volkov, Mark Wigglesworth, Jessica Cottis, Paul Murphy, Valentina Peleggi, Daniel Capps, Judith Kubitz, Mark Shanahan, Maxime Tortelier, Martin West, David White, Toby Purser, Rodolfo Saglimbeni, Stephan Zilias, Christian Ludwig, Francesco Pasqualetti, Leonardo Benazzi, Julian Bigg, Dominic Grier, Karin Hendrickson, Robert Tuohy, Jonathan Mann, John Landor, Martin Georgiev, David Lawrence, Nicolae Moldoveanu, Sunwook Kim
In addition to his commitment to the Academy, Colin Metters travelled extensively giving masterclasses as guest professor in a number of conservatoires and music academies including Helsinki, Hanoi, Ho chi Minh City, St Petersburg, Weimar, Mannheim, Sydney, Cracow, Chicago, Beijing, Michigan and New York. He also directed masterclasses with professional orchestras in Berlin, Belgrade, Moscow, St Petersburg, Dubrovnik, Zagreb, Vilnius and Liepaja.
Colin Metters with Mirga Grazinyte Tyla and Gábor Káli in Dirigentumforum Masterclass (2009) with the Schleswig-Holsteinische Sinfonieorchester.
Over the years Metters has received many testimonials from students outside the Academy, expressing gratitude and appreciation from those who studied with him – here are a few...
“I would like to thank you for this extraordinary musical week with you. Your words about conducting philosophy and psychology were definitely the most effective and inspirational things I've heard and will be for me one of the most unforgettable motivational experiences of my life.”
Panajoitis: Berlin Masterclass
“I want to thank you for the wonderful masterclass in Lithuania. I have spent the last four weeks thinking deeply about what I learned from your masterful teaching. I have spent much time mentally, physically and kinetically integrating this new information into myself and it has had a profound impact on my way forward in conducting. Thank you for your patience, humour and fairness with each and every one of us. You demonstrated to us the most extraordinary respect and dedication to teaching that I have seen in many years.”
Amy: Lithuanian Masterclass
“Colin Metters' pedagogy interconnects intellectual rigour with emotional honesty. With an unflinching eye, Metters guides, interrogates assumptions, demands musical integrity and challenges the student to turn up the volume on their own imagination.”
Carolyn: CIAC Masterclass
“You have helped me to find the keys to unlock emotion, purpose and freedom in sound for which I am deeply grateful.”
Chris: CIAC Masterclass
“I'm Simone from Florence who had the honour to be able to do the masterclass in Berlin with you. I wanted to thank you for everything, for your teachings, your patience, your extraordinary humanity. I think you for making me grow as a man and as a musician. Thank you!.”
Simone: Berlin Masterclass
“I would like to tell you how grateful I am for this wonderful week of learning. You taught me the importance of the honesty in music making and also the importance of receiving from the orchestra. I have also learnt the most important lesson in my life, not only as a musician/conductor, but as a person, to understand the concept of listening to others and taking the time to process the information I receive. Again, thank you so much for this invaluable experience.”
Robert: Berlin Masterclass
“Thank you ever so much! Your kindness, skill and honesty are incomparable and beyond inspiring.”
Ed: CIAC Masterclass
“I have come away with a clear idea of what needs addressing. Most primary issues are psychological and emotional. Thank you for holding up a lantern that makes things so clear to all of us. It was an inspiration to see you working with such patience and care and to feel the truth of all you said and showed.”
James: YMS Masterclass