Boston artistic advisor is arrested for child porn
mainStatement from the US Department of Justice:
BOSTON – An employee of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra was arrested today and charged in federal court in Boston with receipt and possession of child pornography.
David St. George, 71, of Arlington, was charged with one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
According to charging documents, law enforcement in Boston received information regarding an online storage account suspected of containing child pornography. The IP address linked to the account was assigned to St. George’s internet account. Further investigation into the files revealed approximately 83 images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including a one-year-old girl.
A search warrant executed at St. George’s residence today revealed thousands of files of child pornography, including the sexual assaults of children between six-and-eight years old. It is alleged that St. George has been receiving and downloading child pornography from the “Dark Web” and taking steps to conceal his identity.
According to court documents, St. George is employed by the Boston Philharmonic and the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.
The Boston Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1979 by the British-born conductor Benjamin Zander. a youth orchestras was added some years later.
The orchestra has not responded to the charges against its artistic advisor. Zander has described St George as ‘my lifelong musical collaborator’.
UPDATE: Boston fires advisor
This is a disaster on multiple levels.
Readers may recall the Peter Benjamin situation that led to Zander’s ouster from New England Conservatory in 2012. According to WBUR:
“World-renowned conductor Benjamin Zander and the New England Conservatory abruptly ended an almost half-century long working relationship Thursday, when school officials discovered Zander had knowingly hired a registered sex-offender to videotape NEC’s Youth Philharmonic Orchestra over the past decade.
Zander does not deny knowing Peter Benjamin’s history. In fact, Zander provided a testimonial at Benjamin’s sentencing hearing 20 years ago. In 1994, Benjamin pleaded guilty to raping a boy.
For his part, Zander calls his dismissal an “absolute tragedy,” adding that Benjamin’s “done nothing for 20 years”. But it also raises questions about just how much scrutiny private institutions are — or should be —giving to the past histories of contract employees.”
What is equally horrible is that the youth orchestra that was created in 2012 as integral part of the BPYO, owns its birth with the fact that Zander was fired from NEC because of the Peter Benjamin Scandal. Two Sex offenders around the organization is too many!
Disgusting.
“Two Sex offenders around the organization is too many!”
Hm. What about one being too many?
“Disgusting.”
Yes.
Can some organization PLEASE protect the kids of this orchestra! Ben Zander got fired from NEC in 2012 for hiring sex offender videographer. He goes off and creates his own youth orchestra…now his artistic director is arrested for child pornography? There are no coincidences like this. If you are a parent, get your kid out of there before it’s too late.