Cellist Jérôme Pernoo is Suspended From Parisian Conservatory

The 49-year-old was reinstated in July 2021, after the expiration of the initial suspension

Following summary proceedings in the administrative court of Paris for Jérôme Pernoo’s case, the 49-year-old was once again suspended by the Paris National Conservatory of Music and Dance (CNSMDP) for a maximum period of four months, according to French news agency Lefigaro.

Pernoo was originally suspended from the CNSMDP following accusations of sexual misconduct towards male students from over a decade ago. He was reinstated in July 2021, after the expiration of the initial suspension, with talks that the matter would be revisited in September.

According to Lefigaro, at the heart of Pernoo’s new suspension is the involvement of the Egaé group with CNSMDP during initial investigations in April 2021. Egaé group is a consultancy agency specializing in gender equality and prevention of gender-based and sexual violence. 

Egaé’s president of the cabinet, feminist activist Caroline de Haas, was personally involved in the case and lead the interviews. Since then, several interviewees have pointed out a lack of impartiality of the internal audit.

The CNSMDP will now conduct a second internal investigation, which will be entrusted to a different audit firm. 

As reported by France Musique, CNSMDP management recently stated in a press release: “In order to allow the good progress of the new internal investigation, the CNSMDP has decided to suspend Jérôme Pernoo from his position, as of December 10, 2021, and for a maximum period of four months, effective immediately.

“The CNSMDP recalls that since the end of the first internal investigation, several criminal complaints have been filed against Jérôme Pernoo and a preliminary investigation is underway.”

Pernoo is refuting the complaints, saying that he had never been made aware of any objections. “I have never been summoned by the police or the courts and I am not the subject of any judicial investigation,” he said. “I am very amazed that the Conservatory is talking about something that no one can know or confirm.”