A Guide for Classical Musicians Facing Online Threats, Harassment, and Cyberbullying
Whether you're receiving threatening messages, being doxxed, impersonated, or targeted by smear campaigns, it's important to know your rights, what actions you can take, and how to protect yourself. Whether you're a student, freelancer, full-time performer, arts administrator, music professor, or a parent of a music student....knowing your rights and taking proactive steps can help you stay safe and hold abusers accountable.
Katie A. Berglof
An Early History of Exploitation in Ballet, Opera, Theatre, and Orchestras
Why did ballet’s sexual exploitation become spectacle in the 19th century while orchestras cloaked theirs in velvet hush? Because the world tolerates violence against women when it comes with music and pearls. Because we only call it a scandal when it breaks the illusion. Ballet was a performance of femininity. So when the abuse happened, it was expected. Or worse, admired. Orchestras, on the other hand, carried the banner of refinement. So when the abuse happened, it was unt
Katie A. Berglof
From Podium to Propagandist: Gergiev’s Role in Putin’s Empire
For too long, Western institutions, particularly in the classical music world, have hidden behind the notion that “art is above politics.” But art is never above politics when it is used as a tool of nationalism, repression, or propaganda. Valery Gergiev has been a willing participant in that machinery.
Katie A. Berglof
When Women Uphold Misogyny in Classical Music Culture
Most women don’t wake up one day and decide to defend abusers. It’s subtler than that. It starts with what we’re taught to value: Be nice. Be likable. Don’t cause trouble. Don't be that woman. Be grateful for opportunities. Protect your mentor’s reputation. Play the game. And it starts early—sometimes in music school, sometimes in church, sometimes around the dinner table. We learn, little by little, that proximity to male power offers protection.
Katie A. Berglof
Withdrawing Support from CMEC: Civility Without Accountability Isn’t Advocacy
I’ve watched the Coalition of Musicians for Ethical Change (CMEC) remain silent, deflect, and align with those protecting power over people. I once offered my support to CMEC. I can no longer do so in good conscience.
Katie A. Berglof
An Open Letter to Froydis Ree Wekre Followers and the Brass Community at Large
I’m in the trenches of social media this week engaging directly with influential figures in horn playing—on Facebook timelines and comment threads—where critical issues of discrimination, competition bias, and gender equity are often dismissed or distorted.
Katie A. Berglof
Beyond the Stage: The NEA Crisis and American Orchestras
Many orchestras have spent the last two decades trying to reverse the stereotype of elitism—to open their doors wider, to be more reflective of the communities they serve. NEA funding has often helped make that possible. When that funding disappears, it doesn't just take away money—it chips away at progress, access, equity. It forces orchestras into a narrower definition of success, one driven by revenue rather than mission.
Katie A. Berglof
Classical Musicians Guide to Knowing Your Rights!
It's essential to know your legal rights, your protections, and how to take action when lines are crossed, whether you're a freelance artist, orchestral musician, conservatory student, or professor.
Katie A. Berglof
Trump’s Kennedy Center Coup: A Symphony of Boos, Bureaucracy, and Bafflingly Bad Decisions
What began as a murmur of discontent towards Vice President J.D. Vance, swiftly crescendoed into a full-throated wall of Booing.
Katie A. Berglof
Loyalty or Fear? Kalmar's Return to The Oregon Symphony Reopens Old Wounds
Questions arise about the motivations behind Kalmar's continued association with the Oregon Symphony: Is it rooted in loyalty or fear?
Katie A. Berglof
Petitioning The Houston Symphony: A Call for Safety & Equal Opportunity in Orchestras
Is this the legacy that the Houston Symphony wishes to uphold? This letter is not just my voice—it echoes the disappointment...
Katie A. Berglof
Jonathan Carney’s Career Wasn’t Built on Merit—It Was Built on the BSO's Shielding of His Misconduct
Carney’s misconduct wasn’t an open secret—it was a documented fact. Artistic legacy means nothing if built on the backs of silenced victims.
Katie A. Berglof
Arts Administrators, It’s Time to Unionize: Here’s Why
While musicians frequently unionize, orchestra and arts administrators rarely do, though they should. It's inevitable. Here's why...
Katie A. Berglof
El Sistema’s Cultural Politics and What Orchestras Can Learn from It
El Sistema’s entanglement with political agendas has only deepened the erosion of its founding values. What began as a movement of hope...
Katie A. Berglof
Standing Up for Integrity in Classical Music — Why I Left the Seattle Symphony, Spoke Up About Alex Klein, and Supported the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Investigation
"This isn’t just about one individual—it’s about dismantling a culture that allows abuse to persist in classical music institutions."
Katie A. Berglof
Spill the Sauce: Today’s Juiciest Orchestral Gossip
Symphony Loses All Funding After Board President Mistakes Harpsichord for Fancy Coffee Machine...
Katie A. Berglof
You're Not a Dumpster Fire: Dealing with Catastrophic Thinking in Music
They’re the sneaky little thoughts that pop up when you flub an entrance and think, "Should I abandon music and open a taco truck instead?"
Katie A. Berglof
A Defense Fund for Musician Advocates & Victims of Harassment
The Courage Over Silence Defense Fund supports classical musicians—survivors, whistleblowers, & advocates facing harassment.
Katie A. Berglof
Wagner: Swiped Left on by Literally Everyone
Wagner’s ghost tweeted late last night. “One day, someone will appreciate me…maybe after they finish their avocado toast."
Katie A. Berglof
Classical Musician Financial Tips now Catchier than a Haydn Rondo in Duple Meter
Financial literacy is important to classical musicians. We're here to make it as fun as a flash mob playing Beethoven in a food court!
Katie A. Berglof
Orchestras on Tour: A Call for Accountability and Safer Practices in the Classical Music Industry
A testimony raises critical issues on accountability, safety, and the culture of orchestras, particularly during international tours.
Katie A. Berglof
Muted Voices: Unions Failing to Support Classical Musicians
Holding musicians' unions accountable for failing victims of sexual harassment or misconduct involves a combination of internal reforms...
Katie A. Berglof
When Saying “No” Isn’t Safe: How Professors Exploit Music Students
“Can I ask you a favor?” they begin. Before you know it, you’ve agreed to babysit their child while they attend a “very important” concert.
Katie A. Berglof
The Podium Posse: When Abusive Conductors Throw Shade (and Maybe a Music Stand) at the Orchestra
Let’s explore the terrain of conductor tantrums—where the line between artistic passion and outright abuse is as thin as a violin string.
Katie A. Berglof
