A former musician from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) is embroiled in a legal battle after speaking out about allegations of sexual abuse.
Esther Hwang, a former VSO Violinist, bravely stood up against the injustice she faced. She shared, “I couldn’t stay silent. If I did, it would mean letting the VSO think they could get away with this again.”
Hwang’s journey as a musician started early in life, shaping her future path. She humorously remarked, “When you kick off your musical journey at three, options are pretty limited!”
After a stint at Juilliard, Hwang returned home to Vancouver to support her family by working as a violin extra for the VSO. What followed was beyond her worst fears, as a senior member of the orchestra subjected her to sexual assault and rape.
Upon reporting the incident, Hwang was coerced into signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) by the VSO, silencing her from speaking out about the trauma she endured. This unjust demand left her with no choice but to comply, despite knowing it was morally wrong.
Despite signing the NDA, Hwang noticed a decline in her work opportunities with the VSO. From being a regular performer for over two years, she suddenly found herself excluded from concerts and events.
Defying the forced silence, Hwang chose to break the NDA and share her story, leading the VSO to retaliate with a cease and desist order. She made it clear that staying quiet would only empower the VSO to continue mistreating others in the future.
By shedding light on her ordeal, Hwang is also advocating against the abusive use of NDAs to conceal workplace misconduct. Her actions have sparked a larger movement aimed at banning NDAs in such cases, encouraging others to speak up and seek justice.
Despite the challenges she faced, Esther remains dedicated to her musical passion. She continues to find solace and joy in music, performing with a metropolitan orchestra, playing in a string quartet, and sharing her expertise by teaching violin.
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Esther Hwang’s courageous stance has gained recognition and support from various quarters, including Julie Macfarlane, Director of the Can’t Buy My Silence organization. The movement against NDAs in cases of workplace misconduct is gaining momentum, with an online petition urging VSO to retract Hwang’s NDA and put an end to such practices gathering over 11,000 signatures.
In response to Hwang’s allegations, VSO has refuted claims of retaliation, asserting its commitment to following best practices and legal guidelines regarding NDAs in the future.