A major sexual harassment scandal is rocking the elite Juilliard School of Music as several teachers are accused of discrimination and harassment – and a prominent professor is on leave after 500 people signed a letter condemning his “abuse of women and power” issued.
Composer Robert Beaser, 68, was suspended for misconduct that included soliciting students for sex — much of which was detailed in an exposé published Dec. 12 at the Upper West Side conservatory. VAN magazine.
“Sexual discrimination and sexual violence have no place in our school community. We take all such allegations very seriously,” Juilliard spokeswoman Rosalie Contreras told The Post on Wednesday when news of Beaser’s suspension broke.
In one case, Biser offered to advance a former student’s career before asking for sex in return, the publication said.
“What will you do for me?” – he said as if.
Biser, who often teaches students in his private home, joined Juilliard’s composition department in 1993 and served as department chair from 1994 to 2018.
The school was reportedly notified of the allegations against him in the 1990s and again in 2017 and 2018.
While the 2018 report coincided with Beaser’s replacement as chairman by Melinda Wagner, Contreras told VAN the decisions were unrelated.
“Allegations previously reported in the late 1990s and 2017/18 were investigated based on the information provided at the time,” he told The Post.
“However, in order to review new information and better understand these past allegations, the school’s current administration launched an independent investigation on December 8.”
According to the Daily Mailprovost Andy Meyer explained in a Dec. 16 email to faculty that Beiser will be “stepping down from his teaching duties” while the investigation is conducted.
The decision to put Beaser on leave also coincided with a release open letter Signed by 500 musicians, composers and other music leaders, it condemned his “decades of abuse of women and power”.
Beaser did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment, though he told VAN he is “cooperating” with the investigation.
In addition to Beaser, VAN details the misconduct of late Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and faculty member Christopher Rose, whom composer Suzanne Farrin says tried to kiss after a 2001 dinner to discuss an audition for her doctoral program.
Farrin told the magazine that his application to Juilliard was rejected after he “spinned off and … ran away.” When he called to report the incident, the administrator noted that he was a “huge supporter” of Rose’s music.
“They were ready for my call,” Farrin recalled.
The VAN article also includes an allegation that another teacher of the eight female graduates, Oscar-winning composer John Corigliano, rarely accepted female students.
“It was said as a joke,” graduate Christina Spiney told the publication. “You couldn’t read with him” or something.
While Samuel Adler, an adjunct faculty member, confirmed that Corigliano “initially” did not recruit female students, Corigliano denied the magazine’s allegations.
“It saddens me to read that eight female Juilliard students understand that you have an unwritten policy by which I prefer men over women,” she said.
“Such a position was neither my preference nor my policy. I am very happy to work with many talented young women and men during my long teaching career.
Corigliano did not respond to The Post’s request for comment.
Several of the former students featured in the VAN story felt that recognition of Juilliard’s troubled culture was long overdue.
“I wouldn’t even call it an open secret.” I would just call it open,” said Laura Karpman, a film composer and Juilliard alumna, of sexual predators on campus. “These women feel incredibly vulnerable. If they come forward, they have no protection… They there is no guarantee that anyone will listen.
Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum, another faculty member, echoed Karpman’s sentiments, saying female students felt safe studying with “less than half” of the teachers.
Founded in 1905, Juilliard is widely recognized as one of the world’s most elite performing arts conservatories. With an esteemed alumni team of award-winning actors, musicians and dancers, composer Sarah Kirkland Snyder noted that the school is “more than just a responsibility.”
“When you pride yourself on being the best in the country or the world, people look to you for their standards and expectations,” said Snyder, who never attended Juilliard. “Teachers of other schools knew about it and referred to it. It became a joke, a constant shock.”
In a statement to The Post, Contreras said the school is “committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all.”
“We cannot comment further as confidentiality is important to the integrity of the investigation and discussing cases may prevent people from coming forward with their experiences,” he said.
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