THE FILM
Dear Lara is a forthcoming 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 follow a disturbing pattern. From elite conservatories to storied institutions, 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.
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
I never set out to become a filmmaker. I set out to tell the truth.
For most of my life, I kept quiet about the sexual assault I endured at the Curtis Institute in 1986. When I finally went public decades later, in 2019, I thought I might find closure. Instead, I was flooded with messages from other survivors – students, colleagues, musicians from around the world – all sharing similar stories. The scale of silence and institutional complicity was staggering. I realized I couldn’t walk away from this.
Dear Lara began as a DIY act of defiance. I picked up a camera and started filming, talking, and listening – not knowing where it would lead. While I’d spent many years working and collaborating as a musician, I had no formal training as a filmmaker. What I did have was a sense of urgency, and the trust of people who had waited far too long to be heard. Over time, an extraordinary team helped shape this film into something more forceful than any single voice.
Classical music has been my world since infancy. I understand its appeal, but I also know its darkness – the power imbalances, the myths of genius, the reverence for institutions that so often protect abusers. With this film, I wanted to break the silence from within. I wanted survivors – and there are so many of us – to feel seen, believed, and connected to me and to each other. I’m asking questions. What would justice look like if we truly prioritized people over reputations? How might classical music thrive if its creative voices were supported instead of silenced?
Music was my voice even before I spoke. With Dear Lara, I’m now using that voice to help others reclaim theirs.
Lara St. John
New York, NY
New York, NY
THE TEAM
Director
Canadian-born violinist Lara St. John 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, Toronto, Montreal, Hong Kong and Tokyo, the Royal Philharmonic, the NDR Orchestra, and many others worldwide. She has been featured in People, US News and World Report, on CNN, NPR’s All Things Considered, CBC, BBC, on the cover of Strings, and more. In 2020 Lara was invested with the Order of Canada. She owns and runs her own record label, Ancalagon, which she founded in 1999. She is a self-taught filmmaker, and Dear Lara is her debut documentary feature.
Canadian-born violinist Lara St. John 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, Toronto, Montreal, Hong Kong and Tokyo, the Royal Philharmonic, the NDR Orchestra, and many others worldwide. She has been featured in People, US News and World Report, on CNN, NPR’s All Things Considered, CBC, BBC, on the cover of Strings, and more. In 2020 Lara was invested with the Order of Canada. She owns and runs her own record label, Ancalagon, which she founded in 1999. She is a self-taught filmmaker, and Dear Lara is her debut documentary feature.
Producer
Patrick Hamm is a critically acclaimed 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 a critically acclaimed 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.