Former Guildhall School of Music and Drama teacher and Early Music expert charged with 15 sexual offences.

Leading early music conductor and former Guildhall School of Music and Drama teacher, Philip Pickett has been charged with 15 sexual offences that allegedly occurred during his tenure at the top London music school.

In 1972 Pickett became Professor of Recorder and Historical Performance at Guildhall and held this position until 1997. A highly-regarded conductor and recorder player, he is probably best known as the founder of world-renowned early music ensembles New London Consort and Musicians of the Globe.

According to his website, he has had a “flourishing new career” in the past decade as a conductor abroad, working with ensembles including Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, Aarhus and Aalborg Symphony Orchestra, Chicago’s Music of the Baroque and Mexico City Philharmonic.

Pickett is standing trial for accusations of rape, false imprisonment and indecent assault. He has received bail and will appear at London’s City Magistrates’ Court on February 28.