RCM Historical Sexual Abuse Allegations

by Christina Puhacz - Artistic Director and Founder

Over the past several months, deeply troubling revelations have come to light regarding allegations of sexual abuse involving renowned educator and composer Boris Berlin during his lengthy teaching career at the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM).

As a music educator who works predominantly with young students, I am profoundly disturbed by these allegations. I am also deeply troubled by the fact that I am an RCM-certified teacher associated with an institution where allegations of abuse were reportedly raised more than 30 years ago, yet meaningful action appears to have been lacking for far too long.

On May 1, 2026, following significant public pressure, the RCM announced that it would commission an independent, third-party investigation into the historical sexual abuse allegations. The investigation has now been commissioned. However, the RCM has not, to date, made a commitment to publicly release its findings.

I believe the RCM needs to do better.

Transparency and accountability are essential when an institution has a responsibility to protect students—particularly children and young people. Those who have come forward deserve to be heard, taken seriously, and treated with dignity. The broader music-education community also deserves confidence that institutions are committed to confronting past failures and taking meaningful steps to prevent abuse in the future.

A Change.org petition, “Demand Transparency from the RCM,” is calling on the RCM to make the findings of its independent investigation public. I have signed this petition.

The petition was launched by Lara St. John, a violinist who has spoken publicly about experiencing abuse as a child at the Curtis Institute; Lusiana Lukman, Executive Founding Director of Toronto's Classical Music Conservatory, who has spoken publicly about her childhood sexual abuse involving Boris Berlin and her concerns about the RCM's response; Jonathan Biss, concert pianist and former RCM professor, who resigned in response to the institution's handling of the issue; and Scott St. John, violinist, violist, chamber musician and professor, who resigned from California's Colburn Conservatory in protest over its handling of abuse allegations.

Petition: “Demand Transparency from the RCM”

At Leading Note Music, we believe that the safety and well-being of our students must always come first. Music education should take place in an environment built on trust, respect, accountability, and the highest standards of professional conduct.

We are also in the process of expanding our curriculum to include Conservatory Canada (CC), another respected, fully accredited national music education and examination organization. Adding Conservatory Canada to our curriculum had already been under consideration for some time. However, the unresolved allegations surrounding the RCM have reinforced our decision to move forward with this expansion now.

This is not about abandoning the value of music education or the many dedicated educators who have worked within the RCM system. It is about expecting institutions that serve students to uphold the highest possible standards of safety, transparency, and accountability.

Our students deserve nothing less.