The Elora Festival and Elora Singers have fired longtime artistic director Noel Edison.
The announcement comes less than two months after the festival placed Edison on personal leave following allegations of sexual misconduct.
“While specifics of the situation cannot be disclosed for privacy reasons, the action underscores the mandate of all organizations to provide a safe workplace environment free from any form of harassment or other demeaning behaviour,” states a release posted on the Elora Festival’s website on April 20.
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.
Edison, a member of the Order of Ontario and a longtime Elora resident, was also placed on leave as artistic director of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (TMC). Officials with the TMC have stated they will make a decision soon on Edison’s standing as TMC director.
The Elora Festival and Elora Singers, along with the TMC, launched an independent investigation into the accusations against Edison following his placement on leave on March 1.
Edison, 59, could not be reached for comment, but in a statement issued through his lawyer in March, he stated “there may have been times when my actions have been misconstrued.”
He added, “If my actions were taken in a way that I did not intend, I take responsibility for that mistake and unreservedly apologize to anyone who was made, even inadvertently, to feel uncomfortable.”
Edison, a past Juno Award and Grammy Award nominee with the Elora Singers and the Mendelssohn Choir, concluded that, “Once all of the facts are known, I believe I will be exonerated.”
Edison co-founded the Elora Festival in 1979 and, one year later, the Elora Festival Singers as its choir-in-residence.
