Elora Singers conductor accused of sexual misconduct
ELORA — Noel Edison, the artistic director of the Elora Festival and renowned conductor of the Elora Singers, has been placed on a leave of absence following sexual misconduct allegations from multiple male accusers.
Edison, who is also director of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, is the Grammynominated classical music heavyweight who was made a member of the Order of Ontario in 2009.
The allegations, which have not been proven in court, have stunned the classical music community despite reports the claims go back years.
Edison was recently placed on personal leave after the boards received letters that raised concerns about his behaviour. But the allegations against him only became public late Wednesday night. A day earlier, the TMC cancelled two upcoming concerts, but wouldn’t elaborate on Edison’s sudden absence.
“Last night, we became aware of a media report that makes reference to allegations of sexual misconduct against Noel Edison,” reads Wednesday’s statement co-signed by Mendelssohn Choir’s board chair Maureen Palmer, its executive director Cynthia Hawkins and Elora Singers director John Spearn.
“News of these allegations may have elicited in you, as it has in us, feelings of shock and sadness.”
The classical music website Ludwig Van, which broke the story, reported that some of the allegations are said to have occurred in Edison’s Elora house overlooking the Grand River.
Edison’s home is well known for its lavish parties, attended by some of the who’s-who of Canadian music and culture, from singer Bruce Cockburn to Karen Kain, the artistic director of the National Ballet of Canada.
It’s apparently not the first time sexual misconduct allegations have been made against Edison. The Elora Festival board was previously made aware of another allegation, from a former Elora Singers member, about three years ago. It’s not known what action was taken at that time, but the accuser left the choir shortly after.
Rumours about Edison’s behaviour have been a poorly-kept secret among the tightly-knit professional choirs he’s led.
The charismatic conductor, also known for his fiery temper, is considered a master at coaxing the best performances out of his singers.
Not much is known about Edison’s new accusers, or how old the allegations may be. Choir members say they’ve been getting little information from the board.
Edison has also voluntarily stepped down from his role as music director at the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Elora, which has one of the few all-professional church choirs in Canada.
“We... are deeply troubled about the multiple sexual misconduct allegations reported in the media concerning Mr. Noel Edison,” the church’s Rev. Paul Walker said, in a statement.
“The church is committed to being a safe and holy place for all people and has a zero-tolerance approach to sexual misconduct.”
Edison, who has a music degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and an honorary Doctor of Music from the University of Guelph, could not be reached for comment.
The joint statement from the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and Elora Festival said the allegations came from “letters of complaint from third parties regarding Noel’s conduct” that were sent to both organizations. They said they were immediately brought to the attention of their boards.
“Both organizations responded promptly by placing Noel on a personal leave of absence and launching an independent third party investigation. That investigation has already begun,” the statement said.
Edison formed the Elora Singers in 1980s, growing the ensemble into one of the country’s most recognized touring chamber choirs. The group also forms the core of the large-scale Toronto Mendelssohn Choir.
The Toronto choir has cancelled its upcoming concerts on March 6 and 7 while it searches for a guest conductor to fill in for Edison. “Faced with this situation, we must make tough decisions, balancing the obligations we have to all parties involved,” the joint statement reads. The Elora Singers’ concert March 11 in Guelph will go ahead as planned, with a guest conductor.