Cleveland conductor is completely cleared

After a four-month legal investigation, the Cleveland Institute of Music has cleared its director of orchestral studies, Carlos Kalmar, of accusations of sexual discrimination and harrassment.

Kalmar, 65, a Uruguayan of Austrian extraction, has not been identified on this site during the course of the investigation. He joined the CIM in May 2021.

The investigation results were shared internally at the CIM last night. You read them here first.

Dear CIM Community,

Thank you for your patience as the Cleveland Institute of Music worked
to conduct a thorough and fact-based investigation into Title IX
allegations involving Carlos Kalmar. The investigation was led by
Carole Rendon, a former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of
Ohio and partner at the BakerHostetler law firm. Rendon was retained
to ensure that the investigation was fair, impartial, and independent.

The Title IX investigation is now complete and earlier this afternoon
I communicated my findings to the parties. While the findings of a
Title IX investigation are not normally communicated beyond the
parties, in light of the public attention surrounding this case, I
have decided to share this update with you.

As CIM’s Acting Title IX Officer, I thoroughly reviewed the
investigative report which included written reports, voluntary written
statements, videos, interviews with more than thirty CIM students,
faculty, and staff, and additional evidence provided by both parties.
Based on the evidence found in the investigative report, CIM has
concluded that the specific allegations against Carlos Kalmar did not
violate the Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, and Sex
Non-Discrimination Policy Under Title IX.

The investigation found that the alleged conduct could not constitute
sex discrimination or sexual harassment as prohibited by Title IX
because the conduct did not have “the purpose or effect of
substantially or unreasonably interfering with a person’s
participation in educational programs or activities…” Moreover, the
conduct was not on the basis of sex, nor was it so severe or pervasive
as to create an objectively offensive environment such that it denies
anyone equal access to educational opportunities at CIM based on
gender. Therefore, the Institute was obligated to dismiss the Formal
Complaint of Sexual Harassment in this matter.

Mr. Kalmar and the complainants have been informed of the decision to
dismiss this case. Each has five business days to appeal the decision.
Grounds for an appeal can be found online.

President Hogle, Provost Harrison, and I, as well as the entire CIM
administration, have always approached Title IX concerns with a high
level of seriousness. As in this case, our goal is to conduct a
thorough and fact-based examination leading to a determination
consistent with CIM’s Title IX policy. That examination is only
possible because of the courage and candor of all of the members of
our community who were involved in this process.

Details regarding placement hearings, required of new students and
optional for returning students, have already been distributed to
orchestral students; scheduling, repertoire, and other class
information will soon follow.

CIM will make sure that our students are fully supported to continue
CIM’s tradition of empowering the world’s most talented classical
musicians.

Thank you,
Dean Southern (he/him/his)
Acting Title IX Coordinator
Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs
& Dean of the Institute
Cleveland Institute of Music