May 8, 2026

SYSO leadership is aware of Nina Powers’ petition regarding her experience decades ago at the Marrowstone Music Festival. This is a situation we take very seriously. SYSO today has student-centered safety procedures for prevention, reporting, and action against cases of misconduct. The safety and well-being of our students is always our top priority. SYSO is taking steps to initiate an independent investigation into the matter. We will share more information as soon as we can.

UPDATE: July 28, 2026

We know this process raises questions, and we want to continue to keep you informed. The SYSO board has retained an independent investigator who is actively speaking with those involved and carefully reviewing all relevant materials. We are grateful to everyone who has come forward to share information; your willingness to participate means a great deal. The timeline of this investigation will depend on how much information is shared with the investigator, but we are committed to being thorough. We will continue to provide updates as things move forward, and we thank you for your patience during this time.

This page will be updated with additional information as it is made available.