Buffalo, NY — The discrimination complaint by a former Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra musician who said he was fired after objecting to an anti-gay remark by a fellow player has been settled.
Terms of the agreement between former second oboist J. Bud Roach and the orchestra, which headed off a hearing scheduled for Monday at the state Division of Human Rights, were not disclosed.
Roach, who is openly gay, had claimed that during an audition by prospective musicians in February 2003, first oboist Pierre Roy remarked, "We wouldn't want any more fags in the orchestra."
When he complained about Roy's comment to Music Director JoAnn Falletta, Roach said, she urged him to drop the matter. He further alleged that after he took the case to the state later that year, the orchestra retaliated by dismissing him.
Falletta told The Buffalo News that Roach's firing in early 2004 had nothing to do with his sexual orientation or complaint about Roy.
"I felt very sadly, but strongly, that his playing was not up to the standard we expect," she said. At the time tenure was denied, Roach was on probationary status, which is routine for new hires in the orchestra world.
But Dan Hart, the orchestra's executive director, said that "the matter with Bud Roach has been mutually resolved, and we have no further statement to make."
Roach did not return calls seeking comment.
In May Roach told Outcome "The conductor, JoAnn Falletta, did nothing to prevent or stop anti-gay prejudice among the musicians she oversaw," Roach stated. "The Buffalo Philharmonic seems to think that it is above the law when it comes to discrimination in the workplace. They invented false claims to hide from the fact that they took no action regarding a human rights complaint."
"I have waited three long years in silence before speaking publicly about this issue because I wanted to give the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra every opportunity to settle this matter. Yet at every juncture, they have shown an unwillingness to treat me with the basic dignity that any employee deserves," said J. Bud Roach.
He had joined the Buffalo Philharmonic in April 2002 after five years with Toledo Symphony. He previously worked in Toronto as a freelance musician for the National Ballet of Canada and "Phantom of the Opera."
Roach is no longer pursuing an orchestra career, "My days of playing oboe are over" Roach stated in a May 2007 interview with Outcome. Roach currently teaches music at a middle school in Hamilton, Ont., and sings with a professional choral ensemble in Toronto.
—Staff
Related:
May/2007
