Disgraced choir director remained in post months after police questioning over alleged abuse (From The Northern Echo)
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Disgraced choir director remained in post months after police questioning over alleged abuse
4:50pm Friday 15th February 2013 in News
By Mark Tallentire, Reporter (Durham)
A DIRECTOR of a North-East-based youth choir was allowed to continue in post for eight months after he was questioned by police over allegations he abused a teenage girl chorister.
Michael Brewer, then artistic director of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain (NYCGB) – based at The Rivergreen Centre, in Aykley Heads, Durham City, was quizzed by police in August 2011 but remained in post until he was charged in April 2012.
Last week, the 68-year-old was convicted of indecently assaulting Frances Andrade, then a teenage pupil at Chetham’s School of Music, in Manchester, while he was its head of music between 1978 and 1982.
Andrade took her own life during Brewer’s trial.
Durham County Council said a local authority designated officer (LADO) “advised the relevant contacts within the choir (NYCGB) of concerns around Mr Brewer’s involvement within the organisation” by October 2011– a claim disputed by the NYCGB.
A NYCGB spokeswoman said it sought the advice of police and child protection officers as soon as allegations were made and put in place measures to “ensure the protection of children under its care”.
Brewer was suspended as soon as he was charged, she added.
A council spokeswoman said it worked closely with the police to ensure the NYCGB was given the appropriate advice to protect young people and “this expert guidance and advice was delivered during ongoing discussions over a period of time”.
The NYCGB spokeswoman said Brewer’s activities in his role with the choir were not questioned during or prior to the trial.
NYCGB, whose board of trustees is chaired by Durham University Vice-Chancellor Chris Higgins, was set up as a single choir for 100 of Britain’s best young singers. Brewer was its founding director from 1983 onwards.
During his trial, Brewer admitted to an affair with a 17-year-old pupil at Chetham’s in 1994. He resigned when the affair was discovered and the school said he had stepped down for “health reasons”.
NYCGB said it was previously unaware of the affair.
Its spokeswoman said it operated a comprehensive policy regarding members’ safety but was reviewing its past policies and procedures.
Brewer has been warned to expect a custodial sentence for his crimes.
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