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classical music

What ‘Dear Lara’ Says About Abuse and Institutional Silence in Classical Music

Lara St. John’s documentary begins with her account of assault at age 14 and broadens to survivor testimony about abuse and institutional responses in classical music.

By DocumentaryTube Team 3 min read
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Dear Lara is a feature documentary directed by violinist Lara St. John that begins with her account of sexual assault at age 14 while studying at Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute. The film follows her effort to speak publicly and meet other survivors, framing their accounts as evidence of a wider culture of silence in classical music. That is the filmmakers’ argument—not a measured estimate of how common abuse is across the field.

What is Dear Lara about?

According to the film’s official About page, St. John says she experienced sexual assault as a 14-year-old student at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. The film’s account says she spoke publicly about it in 2019. Its official homepage describes a feature documentary directed by St. John and produced by Patrick Hamm.

From that personal account, the documentary widens its focus. The filmmakers say St. John meets survivors across North America and Europe and examines allegations of abuse and institutional responses in classical music. The film’s About page describes its subject as “decades of sexual abuse and institutional complicity,” presenting that pattern as a conclusion drawn from survivor accounts.

The film’s mission statement puts its purpose plainly: “The time has come to put the lives of survivors above the protection of power.” Its questions about why women remain underrepresented among principal players, artistic directors and celebrated soloists are part of that mission, rather than neutral statistical findings.

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What does the film establish—and what does it not?

Dear Lara presents survivor testimony and investigative work to argue that abuse and institutional silence deserve scrutiny. Its official materials describe the film’s thesis and scope; they do not provide a representative study of classical music or a population-wide prevalence estimate. The film’s broad claims should therefore be understood as its argument, not as proof that every institution it discusses played the same role.

St. John’s official news page says that, since the Philadelphia Inquirer published her story in 2019, she had received “hundreds of accounts of sexual harassment from women and men.” That is a report of accounts she says she received, not an independently verified count of distinct cases or a measure of how widespread abuse is. The page is available at Lara St. John’s official news archive.

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Who made the documentary, and how is it told?

The film’s official team credits St. John as director and cinematographer, with Hamm also serving as cinematographer and as producer. Christie Herring is editor and co-producer; Sanjana Bhambhani is associate producer; Stephen Judson is executive producer; and Christy McGill is consulting producer. The filmmakers describe an approach combining survivor testimony, investigative work and an original score.

That survivor-centered perspective shapes the film’s stated aim: to place survivors’ experiences at the center of the conversation and press institutions toward accountability and cultural change. The film homepage attributes this line to St. John: “Music was my voice even before I spoke. With Dear Lara, I’m now using that voice to help others reclaim theirs.”

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What is known about the music?

The official soundtrack page describes 18 original compositions and seven archival works performed by the Dear Lara Sound Band. The listed performers are Lara St. John and Jess McJunkins on violin, Scott St. John on viola, Grace Ho on cello, and Melissa Slocum on bass. The page lists availability as May 2026, but does not establish whether the soundtrack has a physical edition or is currently stocked by a retailer. Details are on the official soundtrack page.

Where can you watch Dear Lara?

Availability depends on location and date. St. John’s official news page listed a Canada-only Kinema streaming window from June 23 through July 1, 2026; that window has passed, so it does not establish current streaming access. The film homepage lists a Syracuse International Film Festival screening dated October 2, 2026. Check the film’s official homepage and the festival organizer for current or later screenings and distribution information.

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Support and further information

The film’s About page lists RAINN as a sexual-violence support organization and ChildUSA for information about statute-of-limitations reform. These are resources for viewers seeking support or policy information, not evidence of an endorsement or commercial partnership.

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