Ross Winters

In this interview, former RCM Professor of Recorder, Ross Winters talks to Isobel Clarke about his memories of German émigré and Early Music specialist Walter Bergmann.

As well as discussing his influence as a teacher and colleague, he also speaks about Bergmann’s career as a continuo player, the role he played in establishing the Society of Recorder Players in the United Kingdom, and his editorial work at the London music publisher Schott’s.

Biography

Ross Winters studied recorder with Walter Bergmann, Frans Brüggen and Walter van Hauwe at Amsterdam Conservatorium and has performed extensively as a recitalist of early and contemporary repertoire, including many concerts at the Wigmore Hall and London South Bank. He has recorded for BBC Radio 3 and has also released two CD albums of English twentieth-century recorder music.

In addition to his performing career, Winters has a distinguished teaching career. He was Professor of Recorder at the Royal College of Music and Head of Recorder at Birmingham Conservatoire. He also taught on all the National Youth Recorder Orchestra summer courses since their inception in 2002 until 2011, conducting its advanced group Blockwork. Since leaving Birmingham Conservatoire in 2012, he has continued to teach a wide range of age groups and abilities and has become an examiner for Trinity College. Winters is now resident in Kent, where his local activities include directing Folkestone Baroque Choir and Folkestone Adult Recorder Group, as well as performing with his instrumental group, Folkestone Baroque. He is a Musical Advisor to the Society of Recorder Players.

Back to top