Resonate

A lawsuit filed by a violinist against the Seattle Symphony claiming emotional distress caused by the orchestra’s music director was dismissed by a judge on Friday.

Violinist Peter Kaman claimed that he had endured “emotional distress arising out of hostile environment and harassment … over a long and extended period of time” in the lawsuit, which was filed two years ago.

Kaman says music director Gerard Schwarz targeted him because he has an anxiety disorder, which by law is considered to be a disability. He said Schwarz was making a long-term attempt to have him fired.

Kaman claimed — and had 30 of the orchestra’s 88 musicians ready to testify about it — that Schwarz verbally attacked him for talking during rehearsals and slumping in his chair, as well as threatening to fire him.

Many of the musicians said they don’t like Schwarz, and several of the principal players in the orchestra have quit or been fired after disagreements with him. The assistant concertmaster told The New York Times:

”It’s a bully atmosphere,” John Weller, the acting associate concertmaster, said in an interview echoing his declaration. ”We’re sitting there with a sledgehammer over our heads. There’s no music or inspiration coming from him to nurture us or show us the way.”

A conductor’s verbal abuse of musicians is nothing new, nor is the conductor’s choice to hold a grudge against certain members of the orchestra. The treatment probably would be unacceptable if it were a boss harassing his employee in any profession outside the arts. But as musicians, how can we protect ourselves if we can’t sue?

One of the worst experiences I’ve had was working under a guest conductor at Sewanee Summer Music Festival. Whereas he learned the mens’ names and treated them politely when they erred, he would scream at any woman who made a mistake. When I realized that no one — namely, the orchestra administration — was going to do anything about his hostility, I felt trapped.

What can a musician do? She can warn others to stay away from particularly abusive conductors.

Kaman plans to appeal the judge’s dismissal, so we’ll have to see what comes next.