The New York Philharmonic has made the stark decision to dismiss two of its musicians, an associate principal trumpet player, and the principal oboist, amid troubling allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power. The musicians in question, Matthew Muckey and Liang Wang, have faced a range of accusations including sexual assault and harassment. This move to terminate their positions was confirmed on Monday, following an inquiry which brought forward new claims against the players, as per The New York Times.
Liang Wang and Matthew Muckey, who have been with the orchestra since 2006, were originally placed on paid leave in April after renewed questions about their conduct surfaced. While reports of their alleged misconduct date back as far as 2010, the Philharmonic stated that additional allegations have recently been uncovered. Despite the severity of the situation, both musicians will remain on paid leave until the start of the next season. “We have done the right thing and we have followed the letter of the law,” Deborah Borda, the Philharmonic’s interim leader, told The New York Daily News. The facts, she said, “strongly supported our case.”
The Philharmonic, responding to an outcry from its musicians, suspended the two men from rehearsals and performances following the publication of a story in New York magazine that detailed past accusations. The independent investigation led by Tracey Levy found credible patterns of sexual misconduct, from inappropriate remarks to outright assault. According to the orchestra, 11 women made allegations against Mr. Wang and three against Mr. Muckey, though they were not disclosed in detail to the public.
Both dismissed players have vigorously denied the accusations and have undertaken legal action against the Philharmonic and the musicians’ union, Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians. “Matt has committed no wrongful acts,” said Steven J. Hyman, a lawyer for Mr. Muckey, in a statement obtained by The New York Times. Alan S. Lewis, representing Mr. Wang, called the Philharmonic’s efforts a “cowardly mistreatment” of his client. However, in a significant turn, Local 802 announced it would not challenge their dismissals, indicating a shift in the union’s approach to handling such grave allegations within its ranks.
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