Geoffrey Govier

Dr. Geoffrey Govier is a Professor of Fortepiano and Clavichord at the Royal College of Music (RCM), specializing in early piano performance and historical practices. He holds degrees from the RCM (MMus, ARCM, LTCL) and a DMA from Cornell University. His expertise spans Baroque and Classical eras, with a focus on Mozart and Hummel. He collaborates internationally with artists like Catherine Mackintosh, specializing in Mozart’s violin sonatas, and has recorded for Chandos, Hyperion, and other labels. Govier teaches at the RCM’s Junior Department and supervises doctoral research. His 1998 publication on Hummel’s piano treatise remains a key text in performance studies.

Education: Graduated with first-class honours from RCM, Doctorate from Cornell University under Malcolm Bilson. Research interests include historical instrument techniques and period-performance methodologies. Active in masterclasses across Europe and France, he advocates for authentic interpretation of Classical-era repertoire.

Labs/Teams: Involved with the RCM’s Historical Performance faculty and the Revolutionary Drawing Room chamber group. His work bridges academic research and practical performance, emphasizing the reconstruction of historical performance practices.