Donald Hanson American Boychoir

Many of the charges of abuse focus on the choir's director, Donald Hanson, who taught at the school from 1970 to 1982, when he was fired for sexual misconduct involving two different students, although the school did not disclose that fact to alumni and others until years later. A complaint styled as a class action asserting the same causes of action against Donald Hanson and the American Boychoir School as those raised by John Hardwicke was filed on behalf of Douglas Palmatier in 2002. The American Boychoir performed with numerous orchestras, frequently including the New York Philharmonic as well as the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra.

In 2002, the school was embroiled in a scandal due to allegations of sexual abuse of students by faculty and other students. In 2001, at age 43, Hardwicke sued Musical Director Donald Hanson, the American Boychoir School, and several affiliated individuals. He alleged that Hanson and others repeatedly sexually abused him while he was a student.

Albemarle Records, The American Boychoir & American Boychoir School are owned and operated by The Boychoir Foundation. Since its founding in 1937, the nonsectarian Boychoir School has gained worldwide renown for producing a choir rivaled only by the more famous one in Vienna; its kids have sung for presidents,... Free case summary of HARDWICKE v.

AMERICAN BOYCHOIR (2006). Includes facts, issue, holding, rule, reasoning, and summary of the Supreme Court of New Jerseys decision. Mr.

Hardwicke, 47, a Maryland resident, attended the school from 1969 to 1971, and claims that he was molested by the school's former music director, Donald Hanson, as well as other high-ranking officials. Mr. Hanson and his predecessor as choirmaster resigned after admitting to having molested boys under their supervision, according to documents the school submitted in court cases.

Mr. Hardwicke, who now lives in Maryland, attended the school from 1969 to 1971 and said in his lawsuit that he was molested by the former choirmaster, Donald Hanson, in the early 1970's. The lawsuit claims that the school "ignored and even accepted" the repeated abuse.