New England Conservatory Conductor Says He Was Fired

By WBUR News & Wire Services
Jan 13, 2012, 6:27 AM
55 Comments

BOSTON — The conductor who left the nation’s oldest independent music school in Boston says he was fired for hiring a convicted sex offender to videotape the rehearsals and performances of young students.

Benjamin Zander, director and conductor of the New England Conservatory’s Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, tells The Boston Globe he was fired Thursday for hiring Peter Benjamin.

Zander defended the hire, saying Benjamin served his time following a conviction involving a minor nearly 20 years ago, and there have never been any accusations of misconduct in the 10 years he worked as a videographer for the school.

Zander has released the following statement:

This termination comes as a terrible shock to me and I plan to communicate directly with my students and their families. Right now I am getting my thoughts together. I do want to emphasize categorically that I would never knowingly do anything that would in any way put my students in harm’s way. I am grateful for the outpouring of support I am receiving from students, families, and members of the music community around the country. I have had a wonderful, rewarding career with the New England Conservatory. I am deeply sorry that it has ended this way. I have been privileged to help nurture the careers of so many gifted and dedicated students during the past 45 years.

Benjamin is listed as a Level 2 sex offender by the state, meaning he is considered a moderate risk to re-offend.

Zander also is a Boston Philharmonic Orchestra conductor.

The videographer has been banned.

Please follow our community rules when engaging in comment discussion on wbur.org.

Paulette

If he has served his time and not reoffended since then, we must let him move on with his life. Is there no forgiveness left in this world?
pete74

Our daughter, now a professional classical singer, attended the Walnut
Hill School for a year in high school. Her experiences studying with
and performing under Benjamin Zander were highly positive and a
highlight of her time there. Other music students of Mr. Zander at WHS
and NEC I have met and spoken with at length have had nothing but good
things to say about him and the programs he developed. Why this extreme
response by NEC now when, over the past 10 years of heightened
awareness of abuse issues, no complaints were received? Sounds like a
CYA response to put out a fire where no smoke exists, and if it is, then
Mr. Zander should be reinstated ASAP.
Zandeerae

OH NO!

What a short-sided, unthinking action!
Ben Zander is so important to the students at NEC. What kind of example does this set for the students, who already have such a narrow view of life from their conservatory setting?
Ben Zander expanded their thinking to the worlds in which the music was composed and exists.

I am disappointed

Blair Tindall

The word you’re groping for is “short-sighted.”

Kathryn

It is too dangerous to risk having him work with children. Imagine he reoffends… There are many other contexts that require videographers. Why a school?
Estew1

I agree, is there no forgiveness left in this world? How about some “looking into the matter.”…..We must not lump everything under the same umbrulla without looking to see what is really there. It takes alot of courage these days to speak up and support what is really the right thing to do. I hope the powers at be, the ones perhaps who may have ousted Zander, made the decision with courage rather than fear.
Marsha Martin

This is HORRIBLE, both because Benjamin Zander is a fabulous musician and teacher and because Peter Benjamin is being discriminated against. I am angry and extremely disappointed in New England Conservatory!
lf

This is a loss of a brilliant teacher which will affect students for years to come. How sad.
Mrosenthal

Sex offenders and other former felons seem to be condemned forever. What is the point of prison if, after release, those who have served their terms cannot get work and have to bear the equivalent of a scarlet letter for the rest of their lives? Zander–a brilliant musician–did the humane thing and gave this man a job, a job he must have excelled at since (apart from their having been no complaints about his behavior) he’s been at it for 10 years.
Makrausz

How wrong can a decision be! Benjamin did his time, worked for Zander for 10 years, suddenly the Conservatory decides to fire Zander! Zander!! If NEC knows something about Benjamin’s current behavior it should explain its decision. What does this say about the Conservatory’s opinion of Zander’s judgement? I’m a long-time supporter of the Conservatory and think I deserve an explanation, as do all its supporters. You don’t just up and sack someone like Zander. What about a bit of openness here!

Blair Tindall

Yes, Zander. His shit smells the same as all of ours.

LL

Very disturbing–is there no chance for former felon ever to be free of his/her past. Especially since he was punished and has no history of bad behavior since.
Guest

I agree that Benjamin served his time, but there was an obligation to disclose a criminal history that was not met. It was irresponsible for Zander to recommend the hiring of a Level 2 Sex Offender to record minors, period.
Anonymous

Did the school not do its criminal check before putting Benjamin on its payroll? Why is this Zander’s fault? This seems to be an issue that could have been resolved quietly in a conversation with the involved parties, not escalated in a panicked reaction to a termination and “banning”. Really? Where’s their HR department or did they not ask the HR professionals about the best way to handle this?
Brynn

Zander is indeed brilliant (if you doubt it or don’t know it, check out his TED talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/benjamin_zander_on_music_and_passion.html), but he still allowed someone who plead guilty to sexual abuse of minors work with children. You just don’t do that, because even if that offender means well they’re surrounded by potential temptation. There are plenty of jobs for photographers that don’t involve kids, e.g. nature photography.
MARBLEBERT

BENJAMIN ZANDER IS A NATIONAL TREASURE. IN THE ARTICLE ABOVE IT STATES THAT PETER BENJAMIN HAS WORKED FOR THE SCHOOL FOR TEN YEARS WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CONSERVATORY AND THE COMMUNITY ARE OVERREACTING.
TO FIRE BEN ZANDER IS POSITIVELY CRIMINAL AND RIDICULOUS. FIRING BEN IS THE HATE CRIME HERE. THE COMMUNITY, PARENTS, STUDENTS AND FACULTY SHOULD BE SHOUTING TO THE ROOFTOPS IN SUPPORT OF MR. ZANDER! HAS ALL LOGIC LEFT BOSTON? SOMEONE IS JEALOUS OF BEN ZANDER AND WANTS HIS JOB, I THINK.
AS AN EX-TEACHER, PARENT AND GRANDPARENT, I CERTAINLY WOULD NOT ANYONE WHO WOULD BE A DANGER TO THE WELL BEING OF ANYONE, CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR, TO BE NEAR THEM. PETER BENJAMIN DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A DANGER TO THE ORCHESTRA AND ITS MEMBERS. ALSO, THE ARTICLE TELLS VERY LITTLE ABOUT CIRCUMSTANCES OF TWENTY YEARS AGO WHEN DNA ETC. WAS NOT AVAILABLE.�
IT APPEARS THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO COMPLAINT OR STATEMENT OF DISCOMFORT
OR INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR TOWARD ANYONE HAS TAKEN PLACE. IF PARENTS ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH PETER BENJAMIN NEAR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, OKAY.
BUT WHY FIRE BENJAMIN ZANDER?
ROSALIE
Susan

If Zander knew that the potential employee was convicted of sexually abusing children, then Peter Benjamin should not have been hired or kept on once it was discovered. Even if he has not abused any children (in the orchestra or anywhere else) since he was released, Zander and the board could not have known that at the time, only now. I believe (and someone correct me if I am wrong) that most recovery programs for child sex offenders and probationary rules require that ex-offenders refrain from working directly with children or in schools, etc. Even for alcoholics in recovery, you don’t really hear of them working as bartenders. It’s not a smart choice for anyone involved.

Blair Tindall

Crissake, Zander was a character witness in the guy’s child-rape trial. He knew.

LP

Without knowing the details of the original case, commentators cannot sensibly weigh in on whether or not the hire was appropriate. A lot of assumptions are being made.
X-Ray

A rather surprising result for a city and state that likes to be known as the
heart of progressive liberalism.
Akfaka

I believe NEC unfairly fired Zander just to protect its own butt. Even tho Mr. Zander hired the contractor. it is still the responsibility of NEC to do a check on the contractor, and obviously in this case, NEC didn’t do its job, responsibility should not be blame on Mr. Zander. NEC needs to blame its own hiring practice.
Akfaka

I believe Mr. Benjamin should bring a law sue at NEC for discrimination. After all he served his time.
And Mr. Zander should sue the NEC, I am sure there are some employment laws were violated.The parents need to sue NEC for its negligent in hiring practice.
And I call on all NEC students walk out of the classroom in support of Mr. Zander to get his job back.
Suzy Nauman

As a parent of a child who has participated in NEC ensembles, and as a social worker who has treated victims of child sexual abuse, I affirm NEC for doing the right thing in firing an employee who knowingly hired a child sex offender. Yes, Zander is an illustrious, celebrated, phenomenal musician-but the fact that he allowed a known child rapist to work among our children is inexcusable. For those of you who say, “it was 20 years ago”, and “[the offender] served his time”, please understand that there is a high rate of recidivism among pedophiles, whether they’ve served time or not. That’s why there is a sex offender registry-to monitor as best as one can people who remain capable of hurting, in this case, children. Child sex offenders often abuse well into old age. Twenty years ago? That’s nothing. Rape/molestation of a child? That is utterly devastating, and not worth any risk.1/13/2012 12:28 PM EST

Emilypberg

ALL SEX OFFENDERS ARE DIFFERENT. Some do “abuse well into old age.” Many do not – especially if they have been punished and participated in therapy. And we DO NOT KNOW anything about this man except that he pled guilty to the crime 20 years ago, did time, did therapy, and has never reoffended. And that Zander was so confident he wouldn’t, that he gave him a chance. Maybe he had a reason, since he knew this individual; we don’t. Rape of a child is indeed utterly devastating; so is the situation of many sex offenders who are allowed no place to live and no way to earn a living after they get out of prison. This man was lucky, until hysterical generalizations and fear of lawsuits trumped what was known about an individual person.

Suzy Nauman

Emily-Are you sure Benjamin has not reoffended? The fact is, he raped and molested children. By all means, let him earn a living, but he should never, ever be allowed to work around or with children. Call me hysterical, but if hysteria is what it takes to protect my child, so be it.
Blair Tindall

Then why the hell doesn’t he stick to videotaping adults?

Tlcooper93

This is ridiculous. Giving a guy a second chance is a virtuous thing to do. Zander is a good man, and firing him a week before a sold out concert is dull-witted.

-Player in the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra
Brick Dauntless

A conductor, no matter how wonderful, can’t knowingly hire a repeat sex offender and allow them to be anywhere near minors. (Zander appears to have been one of several people who wrote supportive notes at Peter Benjamin’s sentencing, so he certainly knew.)

How some of you think this was acceptable behavior is beyond me. It’s embarrassing how many of you have posted supportive comments or ‘liked’ each other’s ignorance. The nicest thing I can say is that clearly none of you have ever been affected by a crime like this.

Speaking as an early ’80s minor victim who never pressed charges, Peter Benjamin is absolutely a monster. I wish I had the fortitude to have gone public about it then, as it might have prevented him from inflicting himself on later victims. But few 12 year olds can withstand that type of scrutiny and 30 years ago people were more likely to have held a blame-the-victim mentality than now.

I also believe there are other victims, like myself, who have never come forward.

It can be reasonably argued that people are overprotective with their kids today but parents should be deeply protective when it comes to predators like Peter Benjamin. This “man” deserves nothing. Having both of these men fired is just.

234

“Speaking as an early ’80s minor victim who never pressed charges, Peter Benjamin is absolutely a monster.”

Your sentence makes it sound like Benjamin is the victim. Watch your dangling modifiers.
Are you saying you were personally assaulted by Peter?

Brick Dauntless

No, it doesn’t sound like that at all. Yes, I was.

Tlo

Its a simply grammar thing, your sentence actually did as “early ’80s victim” modify s Peter Benjamin. Your sentence conveys the wrong thing grammatically.

Brick Dauntless

If it didn’t have “Speaking,” you would be correct.
Tlo

Wow, and you’re calling us ignorant… The fact that it has speaking is precisely why you’re incorrect.
Brick Dauntless

Really, does context mean nothing to you? Did you think I was talking about Peter Benjamin speaking as an early ’80s victim?
Tlo

Context isn’t grammatical…. heh
Brick Dauntless

Context is everything in grammar. If it wasn’t, computers would have been translating language decades ago, long before you were born.
Tlo

I find it funny you think you know when I was born.
Brick Dauntless

I’m not sure why I bothered with someone who thinks “Its,” “did as,” and “modify s,” are all acceptable grammar, or someone who thinks grammar matters over substance. (By the way, you don’t convey grammar, either. But I stuck to the substance, like adults do.)
You’re masking the real issue: Firing someone who hired a former child rapist is entirely just. No childish diversion can diminish that.
Tlo

I think you’re an irrational person. Firing someone who had little to do with it is silly. I don’t see why I bothered with someone who clearly is not thinking straight.
Brick Dauntless

The person responsible for hiring a sex offender and not informing his superiors is the one who must shoulder the blame, and the subsequent firing. Can’t be more logical than that. The fact that you cannot see this is how we all know when you were born.

Tlo

Understand that this man wasn’t working with children. Most of the musicians never even saw him. He only showed up on performance days, and videotaped in the back of a hall with 1,100 people in it.

Brick Dauntless

How many opportunities does it take for a former child rapist to reoffend? Are you qualified to make that assessment? Are you qualified to make that assessment for other parents?
I worked large events with Peter Benjamin. Hundreds of people. Not one had a clue as to what went on, because everyone assumes things are on the up-and-up unless there’s a reason otherwise. Nobody at the school (other than Zander) had any reason to think otherwise… until now.This is very simple. Even as a victim of his, the man has to have a job. But it shouldn’t be anywhere near minors.Benjamin Zander is not licensed to assess child rapists in any capacity as far as I know. His judgment call, made without the knowledge of other school officials, potentially put minors at risk. Whatever musical genius he has does not translate into clairvoyance regarding Peter Benjamin’s risk of reoffending.Peter Benjamin should not have been working there, and this type of terrifically poor judgment is deservedly fireable. Zander should be glad no crimes have been committed as far as we know.
disquod

The article says nothing about a repeat offender (in fact, the article refers to “a minor”), and students at NEC are not minors, so what’s the problem? I don’t condone what he did twenty-some-odd years ago, but I see no reason to raise the roof now – and to raise it high enough to cause the dismissal of an extremely gifted musician. This is an overreaction. Shame on NEC!

P Yang22

They are pretty much all minors in the prep school.

Blair Tindall

It only takes one child.

Blair Tindall

And I’m sure Mr. Benjamin was drooling all over his lens as he taped these young people.

M_veselov

Benjamin Zander is a beautiful musician and truly wants best for the kids. I am sure he had a reason why he hired the guy. And frankly there had to be a criminal check etc. since he was hired by institution. I don’t understand why it is Zander’s responsibility. It was known that new presented of NEC dislikes Zander personally and it looks like he finally made up some reason to fire him… All the best to Maestro Zander

past YPO parent

Of course it is Zander’s responsibility because he knew the guy was a sex offender and he hired him.

Blair Tindall

Ah, but since Zander is a beautiful musician, your child’s safety is inconsequential.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_S65RBEEMYRFYVMJZMRRADQMMAI gardenia

The firing of Benjamin Zander is so absurd. I am shocked. He is a fine musician and conductor. Shame on his petty, jealous little enemies. May Benjamin Zander go on to bigger, better music conducting!
Mark Beaulieu

A witch hunt. Just like Mahler before him at the Vienna Opera, Zander has has been hounded out by the mediocrities and hypocrites.
Nlsbarza

One single question: if Peter E. Benjamin served his time and there have never been any accusations of misconduct in the 10
years he worked as a videographer for the school, why all this thing after these 10 years? If a man have to serve time for a crime all his life why define different times in prison for murder, assault, sex crimes? All of them, according to a number of persons, must be lifelong.

X-Ray

Hear, hear!
Brick Dauntless

We don’t have embezzlers work in a financial capacity.

We don’t have alcoholics work as bartenders.

We don’t have violent offenders working at women’s shelters.

We should forgive, but that does not mean we forget.I don’t see people saying Peter Benjamin shouldn’t be allowed to hold a job. He shouldn’t be allowed to hold a job anywhere near minors. Ever. He committed offenses against children for years. Why should he be working at a school?

pocky

Found the answer to why all this happened. New Globe article just released tonight. Mark my words, numerous heads will roll:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/01/16/new-england-conservatory-defends-departure-conductor-benjamin-zander/PywHWfHuNxdupThB0Q1xXJ/story.html
Schwartzman [a spokeswoman for the Conservatory] acknowledged during the weekend that the institution did not follow its own policies to protect children. She said that in November 2010 the school began screening its vendors for criminal backgrounds, not just staff and volunteers, which they had previously done to comply with state law. They did not check Benjamin’s background, however.