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| Pupils accuse third teacher of abuse at top music school | Pupils accuse third teacher of abuse at top music school |
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| Ten women have made serious allegations of sexual abuse and impropriety against another former teacher at Chetham's school of music, as police begin to reinvestigate further claims of indecent assault at the prestigious Manchester school. | Ten women have made serious allegations of sexual abuse and impropriety against another former teacher at Chetham's school of music, as police begin to reinvestigate further claims of indecent assault at the prestigious Manchester school. |
| On Friday Michael Brewer, 68, former director of music at Chetham's, was found guilty of indecently assaulting a pupil in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His victim, Frances Andrade, killed herself halfway through the trial after giving evidence against him. She had been accused of telling "a pack of lies" under cross examination by Brewer's barrister. | On Friday Michael Brewer, 68, former director of music at Chetham's, was found guilty of indecently assaulting a pupil in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His victim, Frances Andrade, killed herself halfway through the trial after giving evidence against him. She had been accused of telling "a pack of lies" under cross examination by Brewer's barrister. |
| The Guardian has spoken to 10 other women about what they claim is the abusive and predatory behaviour of Chris Ling, who was a freelance violin teacher at Chetham's in the 1980s. He left the school in 1990 to teach in the US, taking with him at least six female pupils aged 16-18. | The Guardian has spoken to 10 other women about what they claim is the abusive and predatory behaviour of Chris Ling, who was a freelance violin teacher at Chetham's in the 1980s. He left the school in 1990 to teach in the US, taking with him at least six female pupils aged 16-18. |
| Six of his former pupils have let the Guardian tell their stories, emboldened by Andrade's suicide. They, along with a further four alleged victims of Ling, have agreed to provide statements to the police. | Six of his former pupils have let the Guardian tell their stories, emboldened by Andrade's suicide. They, along with a further four alleged victims of Ling, have agreed to provide statements to the police. |
| Several of the women described similar behaviour by the violin teacher – such as Ling asking them to play the violin naked or instigating a system of "punishment and reward" where the punishment would be anything from a smack on their bare bottom to more serious sexual abuse. | Several of the women described similar behaviour by the violin teacher – such as Ling asking them to play the violin naked or instigating a system of "punishment and reward" where the punishment would be anything from a smack on their bare bottom to more serious sexual abuse. |
| After Brewer and his wife were found guilty on Friday, one of Andrade's sons, Oliver, said of his mother: "One of her hopes was that the bravery she exhibited, and the other stories she knew would come out during the trial, would mean that other students who had also suffered abuse at Chetham's would be able to receive justice. As always, she was fighting for others more than herself." | After Brewer and his wife were found guilty on Friday, one of Andrade's sons, Oliver, said of his mother: "One of her hopes was that the bravery she exhibited, and the other stories she knew would come out during the trial, would mean that other students who had also suffered abuse at Chetham's would be able to receive justice. As always, she was fighting for others more than herself." |
| Over the weekend the police and crown prosecution service (CPS) were criticised over their handling of Andrade. Vera Baird QC, the former solicitor general and now police commissioner for Northumbria, along with Geoffrey Bindman, a leading human rights lawyer, said the family's assertion that the police had advised Andrade not to receive any therapy until after the trial was appalling. | Over the weekend the police and crown prosecution service (CPS) were criticised over their handling of Andrade. Vera Baird QC, the former solicitor general and now police commissioner for Northumbria, along with Geoffrey Bindman, a leading human rights lawyer, said the family's assertion that the police had advised Andrade not to receive any therapy until after the trial was appalling. |
| Andrade's husband, Levine, said that one of the two police forces who dealt with his wife told her not to receive counselling for her trauma. "'I don't know if it was Manchester or Surrey but they said psychiatric help might affect her evidence – she might change her mind or it might confuse her. I hope this is something that will be looked at during the inquest," he told the Mail on Sunday. | Andrade's husband, Levine, said that one of the two police forces who dealt with his wife told her not to receive counselling for her trauma. "'I don't know if it was Manchester or Surrey but they said psychiatric help might affect her evidence – she might change her mind or it might confuse her. I hope this is something that will be looked at during the inquest," he told the Mail on Sunday. |
| Levine Andrade said he found her body on 24 January, the day after Brewer branded her a "fantasist" in court. He said she was lying cold in bed next to an iPad with a story saying the judge had instructed the jury to find Brewer not guilty of five of the original 16 charges on the indictment, after she had admitted in evidence that she may have been over the age of 16 at the time of the alleged incidents. "I think she thought, 'He's been let off, he's been proved innocent. They didn't believe me'," said Levine. | Levine Andrade said he found her body on 24 January, the day after Brewer branded her a "fantasist" in court. He said she was lying cold in bed next to an iPad with a story saying the judge had instructed the jury to find Brewer not guilty of five of the original 16 charges on the indictment, after she had admitted in evidence that she may have been over the age of 16 at the time of the alleged incidents. "I think she thought, 'He's been let off, he's been proved innocent. They didn't believe me'," said Levine. |
| Criticism also mounted of the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), which in 2002 ignored a series of warnings about inappropriate sexual behaviour by Malcolm Layfield, then the college's newly appointed head of strings. | Criticism also mounted of the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), which in 2002 ignored a series of warnings about inappropriate sexual behaviour by Malcolm Layfield, then the college's newly appointed head of strings. |
| On Friday evening the Guardian published a dossier of evidence suggesting the RNCM knew about damaging affairs Layfield had had with a number of 16- to 18-year-old pupils when he taught at Chetham's. The documents revealed that not only did the college refuse to rescind his appointment, it also tried to suppress those who spoke out against Layfield, still head of strings at the RNCM today. | On Friday evening the Guardian published a dossier of evidence suggesting the RNCM knew about damaging affairs Layfield had had with a number of 16- to 18-year-old pupils when he taught at Chetham's. The documents revealed that not only did the college refuse to rescind his appointment, it also tried to suppress those who spoke out against Layfield, still head of strings at the RNCM today. |
| One former Chetham's teacher said the allegations against three former colleagues showed there were "systemic failures within musical education now that urgently need to be addressed". | One former Chetham's teacher said the allegations against three former colleagues showed there were "systemic failures within musical education now that urgently need to be addressed". |
| Vicci Wardman, who worked as a senior lecturer at the RNCM between 1991 and 2000, said: "The one to one relationship between a tutor and student is one of the most powerful in a young musician's development. Its very nature is intimate, detailed and precise, and most often conducted behind closed doors. The vast majority of tutors are excellent and inspirational, respecting the vulnerability and sensitivities of their students within this setting. | Vicci Wardman, who worked as a senior lecturer at the RNCM between 1991 and 2000, said: "The one to one relationship between a tutor and student is one of the most powerful in a young musician's development. Its very nature is intimate, detailed and precise, and most often conducted behind closed doors. The vast majority of tutors are excellent and inspirational, respecting the vulnerability and sensitivities of their students within this setting. |
| "Tragically, that very structure can also be an invitation to the sort of predators who up to now have operated freely within musical institutions. It is now undeniable that those who should have protected their students at Chet's failed to do so, on the contrary ignoring and even promoting their abusers." | "Tragically, that very structure can also be an invitation to the sort of predators who up to now have operated freely within musical institutions. It is now undeniable that those who should have protected their students at Chet's failed to do so, on the contrary ignoring and even promoting their abusers." |
| Martin Roscoe, who resigned from the RNCM as head of keyboards in 2002 after the college refused to listen to his concerns about Layfield, said: "Following the tragic death of Frances Andrade there should now be a full inquiry into the sexual misconduct of staff at Chetham's school of music during the time Michael Brewer was director of music prior to his enforced resignation in 1994. This has been a well-known scandal in musical circles ever since." | Martin Roscoe, who resigned from the RNCM as head of keyboards in 2002 after the college refused to listen to his concerns about Layfield, said: "Following the tragic death of Frances Andrade there should now be a full inquiry into the sexual misconduct of staff at Chetham's school of music during the time Michael Brewer was director of music prior to his enforced resignation in 1994. This has been a well-known scandal in musical circles ever since." |
| "Although one has every reason to believe that the school, with different management and governors in place, now has rigorous child protection policies, the former management have many questions to answer, as so many lives have been adversely affected, in some cases permanently. Those who covered up or turned a blind eye have some explaining to do." | "Although one has every reason to believe that the school, with different management and governors in place, now has rigorous child protection policies, the former management have many questions to answer, as so many lives have been adversely affected, in some cases permanently. Those who covered up or turned a blind eye have some explaining to do." |
| Leon Bosch, the world renowned virtuoso double bassist, said: "It really is time that light is shone into these dark recesses, not only of the specialist music schools, but also the music colleges and conservatoires where these kind of practices continue." | Leon Bosch, the world renowned virtuoso double bassist, said: "It really is time that light is shone into these dark recesses, not only of the specialist music schools, but also the music colleges and conservatoires where these kind of practices continue." |
| Paul Lewis, the international pianist and a former Chetham's alumnus, said: "It's extremely important that some justice is done as soon as possible, it's already long overdue. Those individuals who abuse their positions of trust clearly have no interest in the welfare and development of young people, and have no place in the music teaching profession. I'd like someone to get the ball rolling, to begin to facilitate a process by which victims can start to come forward." | Paul Lewis, the international pianist and a former Chetham's alumnus, said: "It's extremely important that some justice is done as soon as possible, it's already long overdue. Those individuals who abuse their positions of trust clearly have no interest in the welfare and development of young people, and have no place in the music teaching profession. I'd like someone to get the ball rolling, to begin to facilitate a process by which victims can start to come forward." |
| The women who have come forward to the Guardian to complain about Ling in the 1980s describe a milieu at Chetham's where he appeared able to abuse with impunity, taking advantage of girls as young as 12 in private lessons at his house. One woman told us she went to the headteacher at the time to complain. Yet nothing appears to have been done until police launched an investigation in 1990 after one of his victims, whom he had abused since she was 12, broke down and confided in her mother. | The women who have come forward to the Guardian to complain about Ling in the 1980s describe a milieu at Chetham's where he appeared able to abuse with impunity, taking advantage of girls as young as 12 in private lessons at his house. One woman told us she went to the headteacher at the time to complain. Yet nothing appears to have been done until police launched an investigation in 1990 after one of his victims, whom he had abused since she was 12, broke down and confided in her mother. |
| John Vallins, headteacher of Chetham's at the time, said he had "no recollection" of any complaint about Ling being made to him. He insisted had he heard such a complaint, he would have investigated thoroughly. | John Vallins, headteacher of Chetham's at the time, said he had "no recollection" of any complaint about Ling being made to him. He insisted had he heard such a complaint, he would have investigated thoroughly. |
| A spokeswoman for Chetham's said the school had not kept records from that time as a result of its records retention policy. She urged anyone with information relating to allegations of historic abuse at the school to take it to the police. | A spokeswoman for Chetham's said the school had not kept records from that time as a result of its records retention policy. She urged anyone with information relating to allegations of historic abuse at the school to take it to the police. |
| The 1990 inquiry was shelved for reasons unclear and no charges were brought. On Friday Greater Manchester police said they were trying to locate paper files relating to the case as an officer opened a crime log to deal with a number of new complaints relating to Ling and other Chetham's teachers. | The 1990 inquiry was shelved for reasons unclear and no charges were brought. On Friday Greater Manchester police said they were trying to locate paper files relating to the case as an officer opened a crime log to deal with a number of new complaints relating to Ling and other Chetham's teachers. |
| The Guardian tracked down Ling in Los Angeles, where he lives with his family in Sherman Oaks, in a handsome townhouse overlooking the San Fernando valley. | The Guardian tracked down Ling in Los Angeles, where he lives with his family in Sherman Oaks, in a handsome townhouse overlooking the San Fernando valley. |
| He said he had no comment to make on the allegations his former pupils are now making against him, or about the 1990 police investigation. | He said he had no comment to make on the allegations his former pupils are now making against him, or about the 1990 police investigation. |
| • This article was amended on 13 February 2013 to make clear that "a smack on their bare bottom" is also sexual abuse. | • This article was amended on 13 February 2013 to make clear that "a smack on their bare bottom" is also sexual abuse. |
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