“The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has suspended concertmaster Jonathan Carney after allegations surfaced of Carney’s ‘inappropriate behavior’ toward another orchestra’s employee, BSO President and CEO Peter Kjome said in a statement,” writes Sarah Meehan in Friday’s (11/9) Baltimore Sun. “BSO management decided to suspend Carney after it came to the group’s attention Thursday that Carney allegedly threatened an employee of the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra,” based in Easton, Maryland. “A judge granted a peace order [a form of legal protection] filed against Carney on Monday as a result of the Oct. 31 incident. The peace order followed a complaint filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by [BSO] principal oboist Katherine Needleman against the BSO related to sexual harassment allegations involving Carney…. ‘After a comprehensive independent investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior towards another musician in our own orchestra, we made it clear to Jonathan Carney that we would not tolerate inappropriate behavior, whether verbal or physical,’ Kjome said…. A hearing for the final peace order is scheduled for Tuesday and Carney will be suspended without pay through at least Tuesday.… [Carney’s] attorney, Neil Ruther, said … ‘We are confident that once the facts are known the issue will be promptly resolved with the BSO.’ ”
Posted November 12, 2018
