Top music teacher quizzed over sex assaults

Duncan McTier, 58, was arrested at his home in London today over allegations of sex abuse against a 21-year-old woman in 1994.

His arrest is part of Greater Manchester Police’s ongoing investigation into historic sexual abuse at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) and Chetham’s School of Music.

The alleged offence is said to have taken place while the victim was a pupil at the RNCM in Manchester.

Mr McTier was a part-time teacher in his specialist field at the Manchester college between 1984 and 1996. He is currently a professor of double bass at London’s Royal Academy of Music and holds similar positions at the Zurich University of the Arts and the Queen Sofia College of Music in Madrid.

According to his official website, Mr McTier is “recognised as one of the world’s most foremost double bass soloists and teachers” who has given more than 400 solo performances worldwide.

Born in Stourbridge, Worcestershire, he graduated from Bristol University before joining the BBC Symphony Orchestra aged 20.

He went on to become principal bass of the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra and won the 1982 Isle of Man International Double Bass Competition before he returned to England in 1984 to concentrate on a career as soloist, chamber musician and teacher.

The website stated he has been awarded honorary membership of the Royal Academy of Music and fellowship of the Royal Northern College of Music.

A spokeswoman for the RNCM said: “The Royal Northern College of Music will be assisting the police in whatever way it can. We cannot comment further.”

Earlier this week, Greater Manchester Police said more than 30 women had made complaints that they suffered sexual abuse from classical music teachers.

A total of 10 key suspects have been identified in the wide-ranging inquiry called Operation Kiso.

Those suspects either taught at Chetham’s, the RNCM or privately.

Some 39 individuals have been investigated so far in the operation, of which five are deceased.

Violin teacher Wen Zhou Li, 57, a professor at the RNCM and a former teacher at Chetham’s, was held in February on suspicion of rape and is on bail pending further inquiries.

The allegations follow the high-profile sex abuse trial earlier this year of Chetham’s former music director Michael Brewer.