Elora Festival Singers artistic director Noel Edison has been placed on personal leave following allegations of sexual misconduct.
Edison, a member of the Order of Ontario and a longtime Elora resident, has also been placed on leave as artistic director of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (TMC).
In a joint statement, senior officials with both organizations stated they reacted with “shock, disbelief and sadness” to the accusations and noted an independent investigation into the allegations is underway.
Edison did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Advertiser.
According to Ludwig van Toronto, the classical music website that first published the story, multiple male accusers have alleged sexual misconduct by Edison over several years, with some incidents taking place at the conductor’s home in Elora.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
“We recently received letters of complaint from third parties regarding Noel’s conduct,” states the March 1 release posted on the Elora festival Singers website.
“These complaints were immediately raised to the boards of both the TMC and the Elora Singers. Both organizations responded promptly by placing Noel on a personal leave of absence and launching an independent third party investigation.”
The statement, signed by Elora Festival Singers director John Spearn, as well as board chair Maureen Palmer and executive director Cynthia Hawkins of the TMC, requests anyone with information to share to contact them. (A full copy of the joint statement can be found here.)
The TMC has cancelled a few events while officials search for a replacement.
Edison, 59, is a Toronto native who co-founded the Elora Festival in 1979 and, one year later, the Elora Festival Singers as its choir-in-residence.
He is a past Juno Award and Grammy Award nominee with the Elora Singers and the Mendelssohn Choir.
