Powerful Social Justice Documentary 'Dear Lara' to World Premiere at Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Acclaimed violinist Lara St. John's directorial debut exposes decades of sexual abuse and institutional complicity in the classical music world.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Dear Lara, a fearless and moving documentary feature film from director and world-renowned violinist Lara St. John, will make its world premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) on February 6, 2026. The deeply personal documentary exposes decades of sexual abuse and institutional complicity in the classical music world and serves as a call to action. St. John, who was sexually assaulted as a 14-year-old student at the elite Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, travels across North America and Europe to meet other survivors and uncover a pattern of institutions shielding predators at the expense of the vulnerable.

Why it matters

This documentary shines a light on the systemic issues of sexual abuse and cover-ups that have long plagued the classical music industry, an issue that has gained increased attention in recent years as more survivors have come forward. By amplifying the voices of survivors, the film aims to prompt serious review of school policies, reporting procedures and institutional culture, pushing toward a higher standard of accountability.

The details

Dear Lara is the directorial debut from filmmaker St. John, with cinematography by St. John and Patrick Hamm. It was produced by Patrick Hamm, with co-producer Christie Herring, consulting producer Christy McGill, and executive producer Stephen H. Judson. The film was edited by Herring and features original music by St. John. The documentary features unflinching testimony from survivors including violinists Robie Brown, Lisamarie Vana, Mascha van Sloten and Zeneba Bowers, acclaimed oboist Katherine Needleman, double bassist Heather Bird, opera singer Samuel Schultz, and violinist Scott St. John (Lara's brother).

  • The world premiere of Dear Lara will take place on February 6, 2026 at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
  • Lara St. John will perform a brief live concert following the 3pm screening on Sunday, February 8, 2026.

The players

Lara St. John

A violinist who has performed as a soloist with major orchestras around the world for more than four decades. In 2019, she publicly revealed that she was sexually assaulted at age 14 by her teacher at the Curtis Institute, and has since become a leading advocate for accountability and justice in classical music. Dear Lara is her directorial debut.

Patrick Hamm

The cinematographer for Dear Lara, with previous credits including PBS POV documentaries 'Who I Am Not' and 'This Rain Will Never Stop'.

Christie Herring

The co-producer and editor of Dear Lara, with previous credits including the PBS documentary 'The Campaign' and the Hulu film 'The Big Scary 'S' Word'.

Christy McGill

The consulting producer on Dear Lara, with previous credits including the documentaries 'Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest' and 'Ai Weiwei: Yours Truly'.

Stephen H. Judson

The executive producer of Dear Lara.

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What they’re saying

“I never set out to become a filmmaker. I set out to tell the truth. For most of my life, I kept quiet about the sexual assault I endured as a child. When I finally went public decades later, I thought I might find closure. Instead, I was flooded with messages from other survivors – students, colleagues, musicians from around the world – all sharing similar stories. The scale of silence and institutional complicity was staggering. Music was my voice even before I spoke. With Dear Lara, I'm using that voice to help others reclaim theirs.”

— Lara St. John, Filmmaker (EINPresswire.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This documentary highlights the urgent need for greater accountability and transparency in the classical music industry to protect vulnerable students and artists from sexual abuse. By amplifying the voices of survivors, Dear Lara aims to catalyze meaningful reform and support survivor-led efforts to hold institutions responsible.