How the union protects predatory musicians

How the union protects predatory musicians

Orchestras

norman lebrecht

April 17, 2024

The case of two accused sexual offenders who got their jobs back at the NY Phil after a union-led ‘binding arbitration’ has reminded West Coast readers of a previous painful instance in the LA Phil.

In 1989, the orchestra’s principla bass was convicted at Los Angeles Municial Court of ‘exhibiting material depicting a child engaging in sexual conduct’.

The man kept his position in the orchestra, and his teaching position, until retiring during Covid in 2020.

During those 31 years, other members of the section refused to share a stand with their principal. But they were unable to get him fired because the union would not permit that.

The LA Times has a court report of his conviction online.

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