Conductor accused of bullying claims unfair dismissal

An opera conductor is pursuing a claim for unfair dismissal and age discrimination after losing his job in the wake of allegations of bullying and intimidation.

Mark Shanahan was Head of Music at the National Opera Studio, which trains around 12 singers each academic year and works with opera companies, including English National Opera, Glyndebourne, Opera North, and the Royal Opera House.

But he was dismissed from the role on 3 September 2021 after more than a decade in post.

READ MORE:

A preliminary employment tribunal heard there had been informal complaints against Shanahan over the course of his time there, but nothing had ever been dealt with as part of a formal process.

He had been questioned about a prior concern raised about the use of pronouns in respect of a young artist who had just commenced training, but Shanahan told the tribunal that this "was resolved to the satisfaction of everyone concerned".

But during February and March 2021 concerns about his behaviour were raised with Chief Executive Emily Gottlieb by several young artists, coaches, staff members and external colleagues, and a formal complaint was made.

"[Gottlieb] formed the view that those complaints formed a pattern of behaviour and that the nature of the behaviour was that it was intimidating, bullying and possibly discriminatory, which was contrary to the organisation’s code of conduct and its values as an organisation," a document summarising the hearing states.

'Different world'

The tribunal documents show a meeting was held between Gottlieb and Shanahan in March 2021 to discuss the concerns, although Shanahan believed it was a meeting about auditions and was "shocked" to hear of the allegations.

During the meeting Gottlieb made reference to George Floyd and the MeToo movement. Employment Judge Alison Frazer said Gottlieb was attempting to tell the conductor that “we are living in a different world now where people are likely to call out behaviours”.

Gottlieb also told Shanahan that one option was to "talk about an exit with a monetary package and an agreed set of words".

"Another option posited was that he became an external advisor or consultant or an external coach," the documents state.

Shanahan was subsequently suspended and an investigation was launched on 19 March 2021. The tribunal documents show that an "offer" was made to him by National Opera Studio in May 2021. It was four months later, on 3 September 2021, that he was dismissed.

Shanahan claims the decision to investigate his conduct was taken to "manufacture a purportedly fair reason for dismissal".

His claims against National Opera Studio will be heard in full at a tribunal meeting later this year.