Statement on RCM Certification and Curriculum

by Christina Puhacz - Artistic Director and Founder

During the past 4 months, revelations have come to light regarding sexual abuse by renowned educator and composer Boris Berlin that occurred during his lengthy teaching career at the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM). Since I learned of this, I have become increasingly appalled by the the fact that I am a Royal Conservatory of Music certified teacher for an institution that allowed sexual abuse to go on and that this institution seems to have done very little about it since it was first reported over 30 years ago. On May 1, 2026, after intense public pressure, the RCM finally issued a statement that they would launch a 3rd party independent investigation of the historical sexual abuse allegations, but only after they have completed an internal review. No specific timeline has been given for the completion of any of this.

As a teacher of predominantly young children, I can’t in good conscience continue as an RCM certified teacher at this time. To this end, I have removed the symbol showing my RCM teacher certification designation from this website and have also begun to take steps to move to the Conservatory Canada curriculum for my students too. Initially, this will mean a lot of extra work on my part as sometimes doing the right thing is not easy.

I am following in the steps of Jonathan Biss, a renowned concert pianist, who has resigned from the RCM over this issue. I had the pleasure of hearing him perform a Beethoven Concerto at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra a number of years ago and it is heartening to me that someone with such huge talent is using his fame to bring more light to this serious issue. You can read his words here https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CKqirbgYE/ and sign the petition calling for the RCM to conduct a third party investigation here https://www.change.org/p/demand-the-rcm-toronto-conduct-an-independent-investigation-into-sexual-abuse. I think it is still worth signing this petition because it will keep the pressure on the RCM to complete the third party investigation in a timely manner. Furthermore, I would also like to see our government strip Boris Berlin of his Order of Canada designation as he is not among the best of us.