The Slow Newscast A reckoning at the Guildhall School of Music
Dec 23, 2025
Clara Sanabras, a musician and vocal survivor, confronts her former teacher about a past abusive relationship, sparking a powerful dialogue. Antigone Veronica Silva, an opera singer who attended Guildhall in the 1980s, shares her harrowing experiences of coercion and isolation. They discuss how institutional cultures of power imbalance enabled such behaviors, highlighting the urgent need for systemic changes in conservatories. Both women reflect on the challenges faced when seeking justice and the baffling responses from the Guildhall. Their stories shed light on a crucial reckoning.
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Postcard Confrontation Years Later
- Clara Sanabras found a postcard from a teacher decades later and used it as evidence to confront him at a concert.
- He initially forgot her and accused her of being ungrateful when she reminded him of their relationship.
Isolation As An Overseas Scholar
- Antigone Veronica Silva arrived at Guildhall on a scholarship from Israel and felt isolated as the only full-scholarship student.
- She struggled with culture, language, and being far from family while navigating elite musical training.
Intimacy Creates Power Imbalances
- Conservatoire teaching is intimate, often one-to-one, creating power imbalances between tutor and student.
- That small, interconnected world makes speaking out risky when abuses occur.