“A special solidarity concert has been held in New York City this week in support of violinist Lara St. John—and for all female musicians who’ve suffered sexual abuse in the classical music community,” reads an unsigned Violin Channel article last Monday (9/9). “Entitled ‘Solidarity Concert for Lara St. John,’ the special event included performances by Lara St. John, Mara Gerety, Dan Cooper, Kristina Cooper, Emily Duncan, Camille Haris, Matt Herskowitz, Erik T. Johnson, Claire Lim, Milica Paranosic, Mia Theodoratus and Gene Pritsker. In July of this year, the 48-year-old Canadian violin soloist made serious allegations … that she had been sexually abused and raped by her 78-year-old violin teacher at the Curtis Institute of Music—as a 14-year-old first-year student in 1985…. In 1986 she, along with two classmates, reported the alleged sexual abuse to the then Dean of the Curtis Institute … but [said] the allegations [were] disregarded. During Friday evening’s ‘We Believe You’ themed concert, Lara shared a digest of more than 400 emails she has received since going public with her claims…. The string of anonymous emails, read aloud, detailed multiple alleged historical sexual assaults reportedly to have taken place” at multiple music conservatories.
Posted September 16, 2019
