Top 10 Metal Musicians with Formal Music Education

Formal Music Education is when you studied at a music school, college or university and got a diploma/degree.

With very rare exceptions, playing (true) metal can't make you rich and famous, you won't become a household name or a glamorous rock star. The strongest motivation in metal comes from dedication, passion, talent, attitude and commitment - these are the most important. But what if a metal musician has all these AND formal music training/degree? What happens is that it simply shows. The band Obscura is the best example: their jaw-dropping virtuosity might have something to do with the formal education of the band members.

The Top Ten

1 Linus Klausenitzer Linus Klausenitzer

Obscura bassist blows my mind. I love his playing.
He's got 2 degrees:
1) Music College of Regensburg (Germany)
2) Hamburg Music and Art University (Germany). - Metal_Treasure

2 Rafael Trujillo Rafael Trujillo

Obscura lead guitarist (born 1994) is pretty young but:
1) graduated from Munich Guitar Institute (Germany)

2) he is currently studying Jazz at Amsterdam Conservatorium, University of Arts (The Netherlands). - Metal_Treasure

3 Sebastian Lanser Sebastian Lanser

Obscura drummer graduated from Anton Bruckner University in Linz, Austria (major - drums, minor - piano) - Metal_Treasure

4 Christian Muenzner Christian Muenzner

Ex-Obscura lead guitarist graduated from Munich Guitar Institute (Germany) in 2002.

(his family name is originally spelled Münzner). - Metal_Treasure


Dutch Rock Academy, Conservatorium Tilburg (The Netherlands) - Metal_Treasure


She studied singing at:
1) Sibelius Academy (part of the University of the Arts Helsinki, Finland)

2) Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe (Germany). - Metal_Treasure


She graduated from music school. - Metal_Treasure


Classical music degree from the ArtEZ School of Music (major - classical singing) - Metal_Treasure


Obscura leader and mastermind was in a school for musically gifted kids where he studied mainly piano, composition, music theory and music history.
I didn't put him higher because it was formal education but wasn't a college or uni (although he's got a uni degree but it isn't music-related: Master degree in Media Technology Engineering) - Metal_Treasure

10 Vogg Vogg

Guitarist Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka of death metal band Decapitated graduated from:

1) music school
2) Music Academy (Poland) an... accordionist 😂. From this 🎹 to this 🎸! 🤘🤘🤘 - Metal_Treasure

The Contenders


He studied opera for 3 years. - Metal_Treasure


LightningStrike, what music school, music college or music university he graduated from? As far as I know he attended Downey High School. - Metal_Treasure

13 Randy Rhoads Randy Rhoads Randall William "Randy" Rhoads was an American heavy metal guitarist who played with Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot. He was killed in a plane crash.
14 Beata Polak Beata Polak

Beata Polak is a graduate of the Academy of Music in Poznan at the Department of Instrumental Percussion.
Plays technical thrash metal - Metal_Treasure

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