Current:Home > MarketsNew York Philharmonic fires two players after accusations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power -Wealth Legacy Solutions
New York Philharmonic fires two players after accusations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power
Indexbit View
Date:2025-03-11 01:33:44
The New 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! (838)
Related
- Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
- Grand Canyon pipeline repairs completed; overnight lodging set to resume
- Israelis go on strike as hostage deaths trigger demand for Gaza deal | The Excerpt
- Obsessed With Hoop Earrings? Every Set in This Story Is Under $50
- Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
- As Tornado Alley Shifts East, Bracing for Impact in Unexpected Places
- JD Vance’s Catholicism helped shape his views. So did this little-known group of Catholic thinkers
- Iowa Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg resigns ‘to pursue a career opportunity,’ governor says
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- Arkansas judge convicted of lying to feds about seeking sex with defendant’s girlfriend
Ranking
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- New Jersey floats $400 million in tax breaks to lure Philadelphia 76ers
- Eli Manning Shares What Jason Kelce Will Have Over Him As An NFL Commentator
- How Joey King Is Celebrating First Wedding Anniversary to Steven Piet
- Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
- Another heat wave headed for the west. Here are expert tips to keep cool.
- Variety of hunting supplies to be eligible during Louisiana’s Second Amendment sales tax holiday
- New Hampshire GOP gubernatorial hopefuls debate a week ahead of primary
Recommendation
Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
No prison time but sexual offender registry awaits former deputy and basketball star
Texas deputy fatally shot multiple times on his way to work; suspect in custody
Why Passengers Set to Embark on 3-Year Cruise Haven't Set Sail for 3 Months
Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
Israelis protest as Netanyahu pushes back over Gaza hostage deal pressure | The Excerpt
Target brings back its popular car seat-trade in program for fall: Key dates for discount
USC winning the Big Ten, Notre Dame in playoff lead Week 1 college football overreactions