Many years ago I met a dedicated videographer named Peter Benjamin. Several years later Benjamin was involved in a serious incident of a sexual nature and he served time in jail. I was not aware of any of the details surrounding the charges.
After his incarceration was over, I got to know him better and was persuaded, as were several other well-known figures in the arts community, that he was profoundly remorseful and determined to turn his life around. He became active again in his filming career and I hired him - about ten years ago - to film some classes and concerts for archival purposes. Over the decade or so that Peter filmed, there were large numbers of people, including adults, in the room. You have probably noticed him occasionally at the back of Jordan Hall at YPO concerts. As far as I know, there has not been the slightest incident of any kind, and there have been no complaints.
As I have told you so often, everything we do has consequences. My trusting nature, which you know so well from our rehearsals, classes and tour (we call it “Giving an A”), also has now had very serious consequences.
I felt it was the right thing at the time to give this man a chance. I deeply regret the upset I have brought to you all inadvertently as a result of the way this has all played out.
The New England Conservatory has been affected by, like many educational institutions today, in the serious concerns surrounding the sexual molestation cases reported in the press. This is fully understandable. It is a very good thing that the horrific impact of this travesty of human relationships is at last becoming more fully understood and that educational institutions will no longer tolerate it. The administration and the Board of NEC felt that as soon as they were made aware that Mr. Benjamin had a record, even though there had been no complaints, that they had no choice but to bar him. In addition, they also decided to dismiss me, the person who retained him to do the filming.
