THE FILM
Dear Lara is a feature documentary that fearlessly shines a light on a hidden crisis at the heart of classical music. In an art form lauded for its beauty, discipline, and supposedly elevated culture, the film exposes a distressing history of entrenched misogyny and abuse that has scarred generations of women pursuing their craft. Anchored by the courageous story of acclaimed violinist Lara St. John, who was assaulted as a young teenager at the prestigious Curtis Institute, Dear Lara reveals how the reverence given to male instructors, mentors, and maestros has too often eclipsed the safety and humanity of their female students.
As Lara’s personal account unfolds, the film introduces other survivors from across the U.S., the U.K., Canada, and the Netherlands — women (and men) whose experiences mirror a disturbing pattern. From elite conservatories in Los Angeles and Amsterdam to storied institutions like Curtis and Chetham’s, their testimonies speak to a culture of systemic complicity. Teachers, administrators, and orchestras often close ranks, perpetuating a cycle that punishes survivors for speaking out and allows perpetrators to thrive with impunity.
Yet Dear Lara is more than an exposé. It is a galvanizing call for urgent reform, challenging the classical music world to acknowledge its dark underbelly and break the cycle of silence. Blending intimate interviews with a resonant musical score, the film creates a vital platform for those too long ignored. By placing survivors’ voices at the forefront—uncensored, unfiltered, and unmistakably real — Dear Lara insists that it is time to prioritize women’s safety, well-being, and careers over the preservation of male dominance and institutional reputation.
Dear Lara is a necessary reckoning. At once heartbreaking and empowering, it demands that we stop turning a blind eye to abuse cloaked in prestige and tradition. It’s time for the classical music world — and all of us who cherish it — to finally listen.
THE TEAM
Director
Canadian-born violinist Lara St. John (she/her) has been described as “something of a phenomenon” by The Strad and a “high-powered soloist” by the New York Times. She has performed and recorded with the orchestras of Cleveland, Philadelphia, San Francisco, the Boston Pops, the Royal Philharmonic and many others. She has been featured in People, US News and World Report, on CNN’s Showbiz Today, NPR’s All Things Considered, CBC, BBC, and twice on the cover of Strings. In 2020 Lara was invested with the Order of Canada by the Governor General of Canada. Lara owns and runs her own label, Ancalagon, which she founded in 1999. A self-taught filmmaker, Dear Lara is her debut documentary feature.
Canadian-born violinist Lara St. John (she/her) has been described as “something of a phenomenon” by The Strad and a “high-powered soloist” by the New York Times. She has performed and recorded with the orchestras of Cleveland, Philadelphia, San Francisco, the Boston Pops, the Royal Philharmonic and many others. She has been featured in People, US News and World Report, on CNN’s Showbiz Today, NPR’s All Things Considered, CBC, BBC, and twice on the cover of Strings. In 2020 Lara was invested with the Order of Canada by the Governor General of Canada. Lara owns and runs her own label, Ancalagon, which she founded in 1999. A self-taught filmmaker, Dear Lara is her debut documentary feature.
Producer
Patrick Hamm is an award-winning documentary producer with a decade of experience creating films that artfully blend creative storytelling with a clear social mission. An alumnus of Berlinale Talents and EURODOC, Patrick produced acclaimed films like Who I Am Not (2023; SXSW, CPH:Dox), This Rain Will Never Stop (2020; IDFA, True/False), and Freedom For The Wolf (2017; Slamdance, IDFA), and served as executive producer for influential titles including Dark Secrets of a Trillion Dollar Island: Garenne (2021; BBC/Arte) and Copwatch (2017; Tribeca). Patrick holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Harvard University and a B.A. in Ethics, Politics & Economics from Yale University. He actively participates in industry markets and pitching forums, programs for the Slamdance Film Festival, and is a member of the Cinema For Peace Academy. He is also a member of the Producers Guild of America (PGA), the Documentary Producers Alliance (DPA), The International Quorum of Motion Picture Producers (IQ), and the Global Impact Producers Alliance (GIPA).
Patrick Hamm is an award-winning documentary producer with a decade of experience creating films that artfully blend creative storytelling with a clear social mission. An alumnus of Berlinale Talents and EURODOC, Patrick produced acclaimed films like Who I Am Not (2023; SXSW, CPH:Dox), This Rain Will Never Stop (2020; IDFA, True/False), and Freedom For The Wolf (2017; Slamdance, IDFA), and served as executive producer for influential titles including Dark Secrets of a Trillion Dollar Island: Garenne (2021; BBC/Arte) and Copwatch (2017; Tribeca). Patrick holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Harvard University and a B.A. in Ethics, Politics & Economics from Yale University. He actively participates in industry markets and pitching forums, programs for the Slamdance Film Festival, and is a member of the Cinema For Peace Academy. He is also a member of the Producers Guild of America (PGA), the Documentary Producers Alliance (DPA), The International Quorum of Motion Picture Producers (IQ), and the Global Impact Producers Alliance (GIPA).
Editor
Christie Herring (she/her) is an award-winning filmmaker, editor, and producer who has worked in documentary film for over 25 years. Her work broaches complex political and cultural subjects, reaching national and international audiences through outlets including the Tribeca Film Festival, the White House, PBS and major streaming services, and US Embassies around the world. Her credits include One Person, One Vote? (2024), Finding The Money (2023), Bias (2018), and CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap (2015). She is an instructor with the American Film Showcase and was a selected participant in the NBPC New Media Institute, the ITVS Queer X-Change, the CPB/PBS Producer’s Academy at WGBH, and SFFILM’s Film House Residency Program. Christie received her BA from Duke University where she studied with and assisted filmmaker Raúl Ruiz. She received her MA in Documentary Filmmaking from Stanford University.
Christie Herring (she/her) is an award-winning filmmaker, editor, and producer who has worked in documentary film for over 25 years. Her work broaches complex political and cultural subjects, reaching national and international audiences through outlets including the Tribeca Film Festival, the White House, PBS and major streaming services, and US Embassies around the world. Her credits include One Person, One Vote? (2024), Finding The Money (2023), Bias (2018), and CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap (2015). She is an instructor with the American Film Showcase and was a selected participant in the NBPC New Media Institute, the ITVS Queer X-Change, the CPB/PBS Producer’s Academy at WGBH, and SFFILM’s Film House Residency Program. Christie received her BA from Duke University where she studied with and assisted filmmaker Raúl Ruiz. She received her MA in Documentary Filmmaking from Stanford University.