Esther Hwang, a former extra violinist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (“VSO”), courageously detailed her alleged sexual assault by a senior member of the orchestra in a recent Globe and Mail article.

Following publication of the article, the VSO sent Esther a cease and desist letter (attached), threatening legal action. In response to this legal threat, she published a detailed account of her experience in her own words. It describes the sexual assaults, the pressure she says she faced from the VSO to sign a non-disclosure agreement (“NDA”) as a condition of having the perpetrator removed, and the retaliation she alleges followed, namely that the orchestra stopped hiring her as an extra violinist.

We, the undersigned concerned music lovers, demand the following:

1. That the VSO publicly commit to immediately end its use and enforcement of any agreement that restricts people from speaking about harassment, discrimination, sexual misconduct, or abuse.
2. That the VSO confirm that it will not pursue legal action against Esther Hwang and issue a public apology for the cease and desist letter.

Esther supports the Can’t Buy My Silence campaign, which advocates against the misuse of non-disclosure agreements. More information, including how to donate, is available here.