Defense Fund for Musician Advocates & Victims of Harassment

Katie Berglof is organizing this fundraiser.

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The Courage Over Silence GoFundMe Campaign is established to support musicians—survivors, whistleblowers, and advocates—facing harassment, retaliation, or systemic abuse in the classical music industry.

The Courage Over Silence GoFundMe Campaign seeks to:

Provide financial assistance for legal fees and related costs.
Offer emergency financial relief to survivors or whistleblowers in need.
Raise awareness of systemic issues in the music industry.
Establish possible connections with others who would like to collaborate and build a nonprofit or coalition that focuses on building better safety practices, policies, and procedures surrounding harassment and support - including standardizing and mandating guidelines across the industry. While continuing a Defense Fund for Whistleblowers (if this one is successful) attached to the nonprofit coalition.

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Shining a Light on Harassment in Music Institutions:

The Urgent Need for a Whistleblower Defense Fund!

For too long, the world of music—especially within music schools, orchestras, operas, music festivals, and competitions—has harbored a dark undercurrent of harassment, exploitation, and abuse.

These institutions, revered for fostering artistic excellence, have also been spaces where power dynamics often go unchecked. Survivors, advocates, and whistleblowers who speak out frequently face retaliation, legal threats, and career-damaging consequences for their bravery. It is time to take a stand.

Together, we can rally to ensure that speaking out no longer comes with insurmountable costs.

The Power Imbalance in Music Institutions

In the unique and deeply personal relationships that form in music schools, orchestras, operas, and other institutions, authority figures wield immense power. Teachers, conductors, directors, and adjudicators often serve as gatekeepers of opportunities, scholarships, recommendations, and career advancement. For many musicians, these individuals are idols—figures to emulate, trust, and admire. However, this imbalance has often been exploited.

Cases of sexual harassment and misconduct in music are not new. Renowned figures, shielded by their reputation and the prestige of their institutions, have been known to exploit their positions, crossing ethical and legal boundaries. What makes these abuses particularly insidious is the culture of silence that surrounds them.

Consider the case of James Levine, the legendary conductor of the Metropolitan Opera. Despite decades of rumors and allegations about his predatory behavior toward young musicians, he was only removed after public pressure reached a breaking point. Similarly, prominent composer and educator Charles Dutoit faced accusations of sexual misconduct spanning decades, with multiple women coming forward to share their harrowing experiences.

Racial harassment in orchestras has a long and troubling history, with incidents highlighting systemic inequities and the unique challenges faced by musicians of color. One example is the case of Josh Jones, a talented Black percussionist who reportedly faced biased treatment in the Kansas City Symphony, culminating in the loss of tenure under allegations of racial discrimination.

Similarly, Elayne Jones, a trailblazing African-American percussionist, sued the San Francisco Symphony in the 1970s after she was denied tenure, citing racial and gender discrimination. Despite her exceptional qualifications and acclaim, Jones alleged that she faced unequal treatment and exclusion within the orchestra, leading to a lawsuit that called attention to the pervasive biases within the classical music industry.

These cases are not anomalies but symptoms of a larger systemic issue that prioritizes reputation over accountability.

The High Cost of Speaking Out

Survivors and whistleblowers who expose misconduct often face enormous personal and professional risks. In many instances, institutions side with the accused, valuing their prestige and financial contributions over the well-being of victims. When advocates and survivors do speak out, they are frequently met with legal threats meant to silence them.

Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) are a common tool used by the powerful to intimidate and financially drain those who dare to hold them accountable. These lawsuits are designed not to win on their merits but to punish and silence critics by burying them under mountains of legal fees.

In a 2019 case, a journalist was sued by a professor after publishing allegations of harassment. Despite the journalist’s reporting being thoroughly vetted, the lawsuit dragged on, causing significant financial and emotional strain.

In another instance, a musician’s career was nearly destroyed after a conductor—accused of inappropriate behavior—sued for defamation. While the case was eventually dismissed, the process drained the musician’s resources and left lasting scars.

The message is clear: speaking out comes at a cost—a cost many cannot afford. This chilling effect ensures that abuses of power go unchallenged, allowing perpetrators to continue harming others.

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Why We Need a Defense Fund!

Advocates, survivors, and whistleblowers need our support. They should not have to fight alone against wealthy individuals or institutions armed with vast legal resources. A dedicated defense fund can help level the playing field by providing:

Legal Representation: Covering the costs of lawyers who specialize in defending against retaliatory lawsuits.

Emotional and Financial Relief: Allowing survivors and whistleblowers to focus on healing and advocacy rather than financial ruin.

This fund would be a lifeline for those brave enough to shine a light on misconduct, ensuring that their voices are not silenced by fear or financial intimidation.

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The Role of the Music Community

The music community must come together to demand accountability and protect those who speak out. This begins with acknowledging the problem and committing to solutions. Here’s how you can help:

Donate to the Courage Over Silence Defense Fund: Every contribution brings us closer to ensuring that advocates and survivors have the resources they need to fight back.

Raise Awareness: Share stories, articles, and campaigns that highlight these systemic issues.

Offer Testimony: If you have witnessed or experienced misconduct, consider sharing your story to support ongoing cases and efforts to create change.

Demand Institutional Accountability individually, OR start a Nonprofit Coalition with me to help: Advocate for music schools, orchestras, operas, and festivals to adopt zero-tolerance policies for harassment, establish independent reporting mechanisms, and provide support and services for musicians. If you are interested in collaborating and forming a nonprofit coalition like this, please reach out to the campaign manager, Katie Berglof. I would love to find a solid board of directors, founders and supporters who can help establish this coalition together.

Join the Movement

We cannot allow music institutions to remain spaces where abusers thrive and survivors are silenced. By contributing to a whistleblower defense fund, you are taking a stand against harassment and exploitation. Together, we can create a world where music education and performance are places of inspiration and respect, not fear and abuse.

Let’s ensure that bravery is met with support, not retaliation. Join us in this fight for justice. Donate to this fund, share, speak out, and consider establishing a coalition with me if you feel called to. The time for change is now!

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Planned Expense Breakdown for Defense Funding

1. Legal Assistance (60%)

What It Covers:

Attorney fees, court filing fees, and other legal expenses.

Representation for whistleblowers or survivors facing retaliation or lawsuits.

Goal:

Provide accessible, high-quality legal support to protect the rights of individuals challenging misconduct.

2. Emergency Financial Relief (35%)

What It Covers:

Short-term assistance for basic living expenses, such as rent, utilities, and food, for those experiencing financial hardship due to speaking out.

Travel expenses for attending court, mediation, or advocacy events.

Goal:

Help recipients maintain stability during crises and focus on their cases or recovery.

3. Campaign Administration (5%)

What It Covers:

GoFundMe platform fees and banking fees.

Record-keeping and reporting to maintain transparency.

Any minimal operational expenses to ensure smooth fund management.

Goal:

Ensure the campaign operates effectively with minimal overhead costs.

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Fund Allocation Process

Online Application Form:

https://forms.gle/TPJ2ZAJZCLtAphZB8

Application and Eligibility:

Survivors and whistleblowers must submit a request outlining their needs.

Applications will be reviewed based on urgency, alignment with the fund's mission, and available resources.

Approval and Disbursement:

Legal assistance payments will be made directly to attorneys or service providers where possible.

Emergency relief funds will be disbursed directly to recipients or their landlords/utility providers to ensure appropriate use. Recipients must provide all receipts of transactions (ex. paying rent, buying groceries) to the campaign manager to ensure appropriate use for reports.

Accountability and Reporting:

Quarterly updates on fund activity will be posted on the GoFundMe page and/or at web links provided, including:

Total funds raised and disbursed.

Examples of how funds are being used (maintaining recipient privacy/confidentiality).

A final report summarizing the campaign’s outcomes will be shared when the campaign concludes and all funds have been used.

Also, any updates about a nonprofit coalition forming will be added here in the form of web links. If you are interested in establishing a nonprofit coalition with me, please reach out! If a coalition does not form or create a future defense fund, I will continue creating Defense Funding Campaigns on GoFundMe to continue supporting whistleblowers, advocates, and survivors.

Please think of all the musician advocates who continue to empower others to speak out about inequities and harassment, and all the musicians who have bravely spoken out both in the past and present about their inequities and harassment.

Think of Cara Kizer and Amanda Stewart; Claire Pollock; Josh Jones; Elayne Jones; Kate Rendall; Jasmine Perry-Grice; Samuel Schultz; Zeneba Bowers, Raffaela Kalmar, and Emilia Mettenbrink; Lara St John; Katherine Needleman; Abbie Conant; Weston Sprott; Anthony McGill; Chi-chi Nwanoku; Annie Chang and Lin Lan-hsuan; Jane Doe and Lara Michaels; William Thomas; Rebecca Bryant Novak; Bhavani Kotha; Julie Whitton; Patti Niemi; Ashok Pai, Chris Brown, James Lestock, and Albin Ifsich; Robin Follman; Sarah Hubbard; Diane Alexander, Erin Elizabeth Smith, Xixi Shepard and Carla Dirlikov; Jolie O’Dell; Jessye Norman; Dean Dixon; William Grant Still; George Walker; Joseph Douglass; Florence Price; including all the music journalist like Anne Midgette, Sammy Sussman, Jocelyn Gecker, Nate Chinen, Zachary Woolfe, Joshua Kosman, Alex Ross, James Bennett II, and Vivien Schweitzer who have contributed to exposing misconduct and bringing cases into the light, etc.

Now think about all the anonymous musicians who have attempted to report harassment and never had the chance to speak out due to being ignored or because of the fear of retaliation. Think about future generations and what obstacles they will continue to face when trying to speak out.

We cannot allow voices to be continually shut down.

Thank you to everyone who has felt called to donate to Courage Over Silence. Even $5 dollars helps! Also, thank you to those who have reached out wanting to help start a nonprofit coalition.