COF Music elects new Conductor and Director of the Chorus and Orchestra following the resignation and concluded investigation of former leader – The Simmons Voice

This semester, Colleges of the Fenway (COF) Music students have a new conductor leading the group. This comes following a July 18 letter from the COF collaborative Executive Director Claire Ramsbottom that stated the conclusion of the investigation of former COF Conductor and Director of the Chorus and Orchestra, confirming that “there was no finding of sexual or harassing conduct.” 

According to Ramsbottom’s letter, the former COF Conductor and Director of the Chorus and Orchestra “resigned from his role.” The letter also outlined both an internal investigation by COF and stated that COF “engaged an independent, external investigator to conduct a thorough review of specific complaints.” 

This communication also outlines a new framework for how the program will operate going forward. Initiatives such as increased training, particularly for effectively supporting diverse communities, were outlined.  

In an email statement to the Voice, the COF said “The Colleges of the Fenway is working on implementation plans for additional training for ensemble directors and instructors, including identity inclusion pedagogies, sexual harassment, working with students with disabilities, and accessibility, as well as conflict resolution and building student leadership.”

The statement received also said that students were directly involved in choosing the new director. A panel of six students interviewed the finalists for the position. 

Simmons senior Sam Breutsch, the e-board president of the COF Chorus, was part of the student panel. Prior to conductor interviews, cover letters and resumes of the finalists were shared with the student panelists. After interviewing the finalists, students gave feedback via an anonymous form. 

Following Brenda Huggins’, Director of the COF Center for Performing Arts, final evaluation, Dr. Erik Peregrine was chosen. According to Breutsch, the transition has gone smoothly. 

“Our student leaders are doing a lot less work because we have a conductor who’s on top of it and really cares about our well-being… It’s been a real eerie calm that I’ve really appreciated.”

 According to Dr. Peregrine’s website, they are an “internationally-recognized expert on best practices for transgender affirming ensembles.” They’ve worked in universities throughout North America, including the University of Arizona and the University of California-Davis. They currently serve as the artistic director of Ensemble Companio, a Northeastern regional chamber choir.  

Reflecting on the resignation and decision to hire Dr. Peregrine, the former COF Chorus Alumni Representative Cammie Waterhouse shared, “I really appreciated how Brenda Huggins included the members of the COF Chorus and Orchestra to help administration make that decision.”

“It was a large closing of a chapter,” she added. 

Please note the following student and faculty resources:

Simmons Counseling Center: please visit their website here

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline can be reached by calling or texting 988 or visiting their website to talk to an online counselor.

For immediate concerns, if you believe you or someone else may be in danger to themselves or others, call Simmons Public Safety at 617-521-1111 for the emergency line.

Following the framework of the Boston Globe’s Fresh Start initiative, which “work[s] to better understand how some stories can have a lasting negative impact on someone’s ability to move forward with their lives,” the Voice redacted the name of the prior conductor has added clarification on the prior article published regarding the investigation conclusion.

Note: Member of the Editorial Team, Alanna Quirk-Aboujaoude, was a member of the Colleges of the Fenway Chorus. She is no longer involved at the time of reporting and publication.