In 1967, after studying the oboe for only two years, Messiter won a scholarship to the Paris Conservatoire. Messiter studied in Paris with Pierre Pierlôt, before returning to London in 1969 to study with Sidney Sutcliffe at the Royal College of Music. Whilst there, he won the Joy Boughton, the Grade 5 and the R.A.O.S. Prizes as well as a Performers' A.R.C.M. with Honours.
