Dear Petitioners,

First and foremost, thank you for your unwavering support and dedication. Your voices have been powerful, and your willingness to stand up for integrity and safety in our orchestral community is truly inspiring. I urge you to continue sharing this petition widely—on social media, with your colleagues, and with anyone who believes in accountability and justice within the classical music world.

As many of you know, tonight (Friday, March 7th), William VerMeulen returned to the Houston Symphony stage at Jones Hall after a brief leave of absence. Despite the serious concerns and credible allegations that have been brought forward, the Houston Symphony has chosen not to remove him from his position.

His presence on that stage sent a stark and disappointing message: that the leadership at the Houston Symphony is unwilling to listen to those who have courageously voiced their concerns about misconduct and fairness.

In light of his return, I felt it was more important than ever to take immediate action. I have sent the petition, along with a detailed letter, to the Houston Symphony leadership team(Gary Ginstling, Executive Director/CEO; Margaret Alkek Williams Chair; Elizabeth S. Condic, Chief Financial Officer; Timothy Dillow, Interim Co-Chief Development Officer; Vicky Dominguez, Chief Operating Officer; Alex Soares, Interim Chief Marketing Officer; Christine Ann Stevens, Interim Co-Chief Development Officer); AFM Local 65-699 Houston, ICSOM Chairman (Keith Carrick), the AFM Director of Symphonic Services Division (Rochelle Skolnick), and multiple Houston Symphony directors and administrators.

This letter outlines our concerns, our demands for accountability, and the urgent need for a fair and safe environment for all musicians. I will share the contents of this letter below for your reference.

Your support has made this possible, and it is essential that we keep the momentum going. This is not the end—it is just the beginning of our fight for justice and transparency. Thank you, once again, for standing with us and for believing that we can create a safer and more equitable future in classical music.

Please continue to share the petition and stay tuned for updates. Together, our voices are powerful, and together, we can make a difference.

With deepest gratitude,

Katie A. Berglof
Designated Petition Messenger
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To the Houston Symphony Leadership, Board of Directors, and AFM Representatives,

I write to you today with a heavy heart and a deep sense of betrayal felt by so many in our beloved classical music community. This letter is not just my voice—it echoes the disappointment, outrage, and profound sorrow of countless musicians, educators, patrons, and survivors of abuse who have watched, horrified, as the Houston Symphony chose to welcome William VerMeulen back to the stage this evening on Friday, March 7th. This decision comes after the harrowing testimonies of former students from Rice University were courageously shared in The Barbed Wire, recounting a pattern of sexual misconduct that should have compelled immediate and decisive action.

The Human Cost of Silence

Each allegation is not just a headline—it represents a person whose trust was shattered, whose passion for music was tainted, and whose voice was silenced for too long. The Houston Symphony's decision to grant Mr. VerMeulen a brief leave of absence rather than a permanent removal is a profound injustice to these survivors. It sends a chilling message: that the talents of a man accused of serial misconduct are valued more than the safety and dignity of those he has harmed.

For those who have survived the trauma of abuse, watching him return to the stage is a cruel reminder of how often their voices go unheard—how frequently powerful institutions side with the accused, not the accuser.

It tells every young musician who dreams of playing on your stage that their safety is negotiable, that the music they love is played in halls where predators are protected, not prosecuted.

Is this the legacy that the Houston Symphony wishes to uphold?

A Petition for Accountability

Attached to this email, you will find a petition signed by a coalition of musicians, patrons, and advocates who demand better from you—who demand accountability, justice, and a commitment to creating a safe environment for all.

This petition calls for:

• The Immediate Removal of William VerMeulen
• Publish Clear Conflict of Interest & Bias Policies
• Establish a Safe, Anonymous Reporting System
• Implement Fair Gender Representation on the Audition Committee
• Public Disclosure of Reforms & Transparency in the Audition Process

To permit Mr. VerMeulen to sit on the audition committee for the upcoming second horn auditions is an affront to every woman who dreams of playing in your orchestra. It is a warning sign, loud and clear, that women are not safe—that the doors to your institution are guarded by those who protect each other, not those who protect the vulnerable.

A Culture of Complicity

Let us be honest: this is not just about one man. It is about a culture within the Houston Symphony that has allowed this situation to unfold—unchecked, unchallenged, and unabated. It is about the AFM’s failure to uphold its duty to protect musicians from predators and the leadership’s failure to act decisively when confronted with credible allegations.

This is about every dark whisper backstage, every young woman who has been told to keep quiet if she wants to work, every musician who has turned away in helplessness because they feared retaliation. It is about a system that punishes the accusers while allowing the accused to play on—uninterrupted, unbothered, and unashamed.

The Power of Courage Over Silence

Music is a language of truth and courage. To play it on a stage that protects predators is to betray its essence. The Houston Symphony must decide if it will continue to side with those who abuse power or if it will stand with those who seek to reclaim their voice.

Every moment you delay justice, every concert where Mr. VerMeulen is allowed to perform, deepens the wound you have inflicted on this community. You owe it to your patrons, your musicians, and every survivor who has spoken out—to do better. To be better.

Our Call to Action

If you refuse to act, the community will. We will not be silent. We will not be complicit. We will continue to call for boycotts, to withdraw our support, and to speak out until meaningful change is achieved. For the sake of those who have already been harmed and for the countless musicians who look to you as a beacon of integrity, we demand: The immediate removal of William VerMeulen and a public commitment to a fair and safe audition process by reforming your audition process.

The Weight of This Moment

This is a defining moment for the Houston Symphony. You have the choice to lead with integrity and to show survivors that their voices matter more than a single man’s ability to play. Or you can choose to protect the status quo, revealing that the harmony you seek in your music stops at the stage’s edge.

We urge you—do what is right. Do what is just. Show the world that the Houston Symphony is not a refuge for predators but a haven for those who love music and deserve to pursue it safely and without fear.

We await your response and, more importantly, your action.

Sincerely, 

Katie A. Berglof
Advocate & Designated Petition Messenger