Current:Home > MarketsIndexbit-New York Philharmonic fires two players after accusations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power -Wealth Evolution Experts
Indexbit-New York Philharmonic fires two players after accusations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power
Charles H. Sloan View
Date:2025-04-11 07:49:26
The IndexbitNew York Philharmonic is firing principal oboist, Liang Wang and associate principal trumpet Matthew Muckey after their union decided not contest the decision, which followed renewed allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power.
The orchestra said Monday it issued a notice of non-reengagement to the two effective Sept. 21, 2025.
Wang and Muckey were fired in September 2018 following allegations of misconduct dating to 2010. Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians filed a grievance and the two were ordered reinstated in April 2020 by arbitrator Richard I. Bloch.
New York Magazine this past April detailed allegations and the two were placed on paid leave. They then sued the orchestra and the union.
“Matt Mackey has done nothing wrong,” said Steven J. Hyman, a lawyer for Muckey. “The fact that they’ve attempted to do this is of course violative of his rights. What’s appalling is that the union has agreed to it, and the impact of that is that it renders meaningless this most precious right that orchestra members have of tenure, which ensures that you have a career at the philharmonic and can only be terminated for just cause.”
Alan S. Lewis, a lawyer for Wang, called the union’s decision “shameful.”
“Troublingly, the philharmonic has gone down the road of public character assassination instead of due process, throwing a lot of mud against the wall to see what sticks,” he wrote in an email to The Associated Press. Lewis described the most serious allegation against Wang involving a person unaffiliated with the orchestra and “with whom, more than a decade ago, Liang had a long-term consensual relationship.”
He called the other allegations against Wang false.
The philharmonic this spring hired Tracey Levy of Levy Employment Law to investigate and issued a letter of non-re-engagement on Oct. 15 following Levy’s conclusions that the orchestra said were based on new accusations. Muckey said in his lawsuit the New York Magazine story contained “a reiteration of the same 2010 allegations.”
Under the orchestra’s labor contract, the philharmonic must give notice a non-reengagement by the Feb. 15 prior to the season in question. The two had the right to contest the decision, which the orchestra said must be “appropriate” under the collective bargaining agreement instead of a “just cause” standard.
A nine-member dismissal review committee of the orchestra convened to review the decision. Management said Levy told it a majority of orchestra members did not Wang or Muckey to return, and the committee made a unanimous recommendation to local 802’s executive board, the union said.
“Local 802’s decision is not to arbitrate the termination,” local 802 president Sara Cutler wrote in an email to the orchestra members on Monday.
Cutler said the local’s written decision will be sent to orchestra members on Tuesday.
“I have heard complaints from some of you as to the lack of transparency of this process,” Cutler wrote. “While I understand the frustration, we believe that protecting the integrity of the process and the confidentiality of all involved outweighed the need for transparency in this instance.”
Muckey was hired by the orchestra in June 2006 and was given tenure in January 2008. Wang was hired as principal oboe in September 2006.
veryGood! (88)
Related
- Questlove charts 50 years of SNL musical hits (and misses)
- 1 dead, 1 hurt after apparent house explosion in Maryland
- Should Shelby McEwen have shared gold for USA's medal count? Don't be ridiculous
- Georgia lawmaker accused of DUI after crash with bicyclist says he was not intoxicated or on drugs
- McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
- Who won at the box office this weekend? The Reynolds-Lively household
- Should Shelby McEwen have shared gold for USA's medal count? Don't be ridiculous
- Jury selection to begin for ex-politician accused of killing Las Vegas investigative reporter
- Macy's says employee who allegedly hid $150 million in expenses had no major 'impact'
- Samsung recalls a million stoves after humans, pets accidentally activate them
Ranking
- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
- Olympic medal count today: What is the medal count at 2024 Paris Games on Sunday?
- From Biden to Gabbard, here’s what Harris’ past debates show before a faceoff with Trump
- Christina Hall Shares Update on Her Kids Amid Josh Hall Divorce
- Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
- Hunter Biden’s lawyers say claims about foreign business dealing have no place in upcoming tax trial
- Diana Taurasi has 6 Olympic golds. Will she be at LA2028? Yep, having a beer with Sue Bird
- For increasing number of immigrants, a ‘new life in America’ starts in South Dakota
Recommendation
$73.5M beach replenishment project starts in January at Jersey Shore
Robert Tucker, the head of a security firm, is named fire commissioner of New York City
Winners and losers of the 2024 Olympics: Big upsets, failures and joyful moments
RHONJ's Teresa Giudice Defends Husband Luis Ruelas Wishing Suffering on Margaret Josephs' Son
North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
Hawaii’s teacher shortage is finally improving. Will it last?
Who won at the box office this weekend? The Reynolds-Lively household
Maine can now order employers to pay workers damages for missed wages