Dear Lara’s Canadian premiere was, in a word, SPECTACULAR!
Canadian Lara St. John’s documentary uncovers a world of horror and grief for children in the classical music industry. From a young age, she toured the world, performing in the most prestigious venues for some of the most influential audiences, while also surviving child sexual violence at the hands of her music teacher and his enablers at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. The very institution that should have protected her instead offered her up like a sacrifice, treating that abuse as though it were a perk that came with the job.
Lara’s journey reveals that she was one of many child prodigies effectively exposed to sexual predators within the classical music industry. Lusiana Lukman, sitting to the right of Lara in this photo, was 14 years old when she arrived in Canada on a student visa to study piano at the world renowned Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. From her very first week, Lusiana was forced to navigate child sexual violence at the hands of her teacher, Boris Berlin, with the abuse enabled by it’s President and CEO, Peter Simon.
Both Berlin and Simon were appointed to the Order of Canada for their contributions to music education. This is how Canada honours, and in doing so protects, child sexual predators. We give them a medal.
Please help change this story by signing Lusiana’s petition calling for a comprehensive and transparent investigation into these allegations.
In my own dark moments, when I find myself asking why bother, why should I care, I come up against the reality that so many people turn away. They offer a quick “I’m sorry” and then change the subject because the truth is too uncomfortable. Lara’s film refuses that. Her dedication and fortitude cut straight through it. Lara stayed with the pain and gave it a voice, and in doing that, she gave people like me something to hold on to. Lara gave me hope and strength. Lara St. John, thank you for taking this on. Thank you for moving forward. Thank you for telling the truth.
There are many times I cannot see any beauty in the pain. Last night, Dear Lara helped me see it again.