UI music students allege abuse from orchestra conductor

May 22—CHAMPAIGN — Orchestra students at the University of Illinois are calling for the removal of their director, alleging abuse, an unsafe learning environment and inappropriate comments.

"The teaching assistants and students of the School of Music have endured relentless bullying, abuse, harassment, manipulation and retaliation under the baton of Dr. Carolyn Watson for the last two years," according to the student group, UIUC Musicians for a Better Orchestra.

Watson, who did not respond to a request for comment Monday, has been the director of orchestras at the UI since 2022.

She was previously the director of orchestral studies at the University of Kansas and has conducting credits with dozens of orchestras and operas internationally.

Alongside calling for her dismissal, MBO says a Title IX case was opened on behalf of a student in Spring 2023 due to comments made by Watson.

MBO alleged that, "Dr. Watson had made inappropriate comments confessing her feelings toward one of her TAs and has used their private lessons as excuses to persistently bring the topic and emotionally manipulate them. In response to their rejection, Dr. Watson had made comments to prospective students and colleagues in an attempt to frame them as a villain and as someone who has 'difficulty working with women.'"

MBO also said that since the Title IX case last spring, other cases have been filed with the UI's Office of Equity and Access, and labor grievances have been filed through the Graduate Employees' Organization.

On April 30, orchestra members, music students, staff and faculty delivered a petition with over 500 signatures calling for her dismissal to Kevin Hamilton, who was the dean of the School of Fine and Applied Arts at that time.

MBO said that they gathered those signatures within a week.

The petition lists four reasons for this demand: "Exploitation of and Retaliation Against Teaching Assistants," "Harmful and Unsafe Learning Environment," "Disrespectful Communication Practice" and "Inefficient Artistic and Pedagogical Practices."

MBO alleges that Watson overworks TAs, who experience "fierce retaliation" if they express concerns, and that she "fails to provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities, maliciously harasses students, and publicly berates students."

They also claim she is hostile to orchestra members and is a poor instructor who does not have "consistent conducting gestures."

Hamilton met with MBO and representatives from the GEO on May 8, reviewed the demands and supplemental material, then followed up in a second meeting on May 14.

At that time, MBO says Hamilton provided information on university procedures but was not able to immediately meet their demands.

These allegations came at the end of Hamilton's term as dean.

Hamilton previously confirmed that he planned to meet with students but was not able to provide comment as FAA dean after his last day on May 15.

An interim dean has not yet been appointed.

UI spokesperson Robin Kaler said that she can't comment on the contents of those private meetings.

"But I can say FAA is always focused on providing students with the educational and professional experiences that will prepare them for their careers after they earn their degrees. And when our students have questions or concerns about those experiences or advice on ways we can improve, we welcome the discussion and we take those conversations very seriously," Kaler said.

MBO made the petition calling for Watson's dismissal publicly available online via Reddit on May 1.

They said it had over 1,000 signatures as of May 19 from "university orchestra members, music students, staff, faculty, parents, alumni, prospective students of the School of Music, community members, the UIUC student body, and former students from Dr. Watson's tenure at the University of Kansas."

MBO has requested biweekly updates from School of Music administration but say they expect that "things may slow down" with many students home for the summer.