Claims of sexual abuse at SanFran Conservatory

Claims of sexual abuse at SanFran Conservatory

News

norman lebrecht

February 23, 2024

VAN reports that two women say they were assaulted by a former professor of violin and chamber music.

The alleged offences took place in 2008 and 2009.

The alleged perpetrator went on to teach in Canada.

One victim said: ‘Everything about it is saturated in this experience. There’s nothing about it that is untouched. It’s deeply painful, because I really loved classical music prior to this happening… It’s just easier at this point not to have a relationship with classical music or my instrument.’

SanFrancisco Conservatory was censured just two months ago for mishandling a sexual assault accusation.

More here.

Comments

  • 88 says:

    I’m very sorry for what happened to these women. It is rampant in the classical music business and has been for along time. I (male) was harassed at all three schools that I attended including being asked for sex, and being asked to go on a “trip” with an administrator. I saw other female students being harassed. It didn’t change when I became a faculty member. Senior faculty think that they can do whatever they want to junior colleagues and students – and it is not just males. Some of my harassers were female including a teacher who tried to educate me about what women want in sex, and a colleague who told me that “if I wasn’t gay, she would ride me for days.” The administration protects the perpetrators by most often ignoring it, saying “that’s just how it is,” or talking to the perpetrator and then putting them back into the same classes and committees with the same students and colleagues. Title IX is often entirely unhelpful. Perhaps this hits too close to home for people in leadership positions.

  • Jim C says:

    Why would you drop classical music because of this?

    This is where questions about general credibility kick in for me.

    • Eric Wright says:

      Trauma is a thing. Now infuse your one true passion in life with severe trauma, and get back to us with your “questions about credibility.”

      Musicians, of all people, should get this. Seriously.

  • Karsten says:

    Lara Michaels is extremely attractive.

  • Allma Own says:

    Sounds fishy.

  • A colleague says:

    Is this the first time a full time stripper accuses a former violin teacher?
    No Joke! Look her up :/

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