Esther Hwang. Photo source: Musosent.com.
In Friday’s (1/2) Strad, an unsigned article reports, “A violinist is facing potential legal action from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra [Canada] after discussing sexual abuse allegations while under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Esther Hwang, 30, was a regular freelance extra violinist with the VSO in 2017 and 2018. In an article in [Toronto’s] Globe and Mail from 17 December 2025, Hwang detailed that she was sexually assaulted and raped by a senior member of the orchestra … In 2019, Hwang filed a complaint with the orchestra to remove the perpetrator. The Vancouver Symphony Society gave her an NDA to sign, plus a settlement fee CAD $7,138.34 to cover counselling. The VSO launched an investigation, which was never completed. Hwang then saw her workload decline in the 2019-20 season, and was no longer called back to work as a violin extra … Hwang alleged this amounted to retaliation, having previously been high up on the orchestra’s violin extra list … Following publication of Hwang’s experience, the VSO sent Hwang a cease and desist letter, threatening legal action for breaking terms of the NDA. A letter from the VSO to Hwang states that it ‘reserves the right to take all steps to enforce its contractual rights arising from your breaches of the Confidentiality Agreement, including by commencing a lawsuit against you.’ … Musicians of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra released a statement in support of Hwang.”
