Top oboist files discrimination claim against Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
The 11 News I-Team has learned a top musician has filed a discrimination complaint against the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
She alleges she's been retaliated against for refusing to have sex with the concertmaster, the longtime first violinist.
This does not involve an allegation of sexual assault. It does involve a claim that because the orchestra's principal oboe player said "no" 13 years ago, she's been subject to a pattern of retaliation and harassment. The concertmaster's lawyer says -- untrue and frivolous.
Jayne Miller: "Why are you coming forward now?"
Katherine Needleman: "Well, honestly, I have been emboldened by what's happened in the rest of the world and I realize I don't have to put up with it anymore.
Needleman has been the principal oboe player for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra since 2003. Friday, she filed a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In it she claims she's been the target of retaliation after the concertmaster propositioned her for sex in 2005. The BSO has not yet filed a response.
The incident happened when the BSO was on European tour.
Needleman: "I went to my hotel room and at 3:30 in the morning I got a knock on the door from the concertmaster Jonathan Carney and he came in, and he came in and asked me to complete our on-stage relationship after he complimented my playing in great detail, and he asked to complete it by having an extramarital affair."
Miller: "How did you respond?"
Needleman: "I declined."
As concertmaster, Carney is one of the leaders of the orchestra, occupying the seat of the first violinist. Needleman said Carney began and has continued a pattern of behavior to mock and embarrass her, centered on her role of tuning the orchestra before every concert.
Needleman: "I would say within 24 hours of me denying him sex, his behavior towards me changed. While we were tuning, he stopped listening to me, which is significant because for the orchestra to sound good we need to be in tune with each other.
"I would think a concertmaster would treat an oboist as a respected colleague."
Miller: "Has that happened in your case?"
Needlman: "It happened between 2003 and 2005. I felt very respected."
Miller: "And since?"
Needleman: "Never."
Needleman complained to the BSO in 2006 and again this year, when the organization hired an outside firm to investigate. According to the filed complaint, the outside firm's report recommended that Carney be sent to sensitivity training. Needleman's attorney told 11 News the report found Carney's treatment of Needleman did not rise to harassment.
Carney's attorney said, "This complaint is utterly without merit. There has been no sexual harassment of any kind. It is an abuse of the Me Too movement."
Needleman faults the BSO for failing to take her complaint seriously.
"I would characterize that they were hesitant to make any response at all. When I forced it, they did their best to minimize it," Needleman said.
In a statement, the CEO of the BSO said its internal investigation was thorough. It concluded, the CEO says, there was inappropriate behavior, but disciplinary action against the concertmaster was not warranted.