Julian Wachner, one of leading US choral directors, has been fired by New York’s Trinity Episcopal Church for as-yet unverified charges of sexual misconduct.
A female singer has accused Wachner of making unwelcome advances, which he has denied. “Depriving Mr. Wachner of the benefit of the full narrative is the antithesis of due process and allows distortions to triumph over the truth,” his lawyer, Andrew T. Miltenberg, wrote in an e-mail to The New York Times’ Javier C. Hernández.
Trinity’s statement on Wachner’s dismissal reads in part: “[W]e have concluded based on recent information that Julian has otherwise conducted himself in a manner that is inconsistent with our expectations of anyone who occupies a leadership position.”
Since 2011, Wachner has been church’s director of music and arts, leading the Choir of Trinity Wall Street, the Trinity Baroque Orchestra and NOVUS NY, and, since 2018, artistic director of the Grand Rapids Bach Festival in Michigan. He was director of The Washington Chorus from 2008 to 2017. He has led ensembles at Spoleto, Tanglewood and other music festivals, and has held several academic posts.
Wachner has been touted as a candidate for director of the Oregon Bach Festival, Hernández reports:
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