A New York Philharmonic trumpet player, Matthew Muckey, has recently made headlines due to a legal battle following his dismissal from the prestigious orchestra. Muckey claims that his firing was unwarranted and stems from a misunderstanding regarding a past relationship with a woman referred to as C.S. in court documents.
Muckey, who has been with the Philharmonic since 2006, was let go in October after allegations surfaced that he had engaged in sexual conduct with C.S. when she was too intoxicated to give consent. However, Muckey argues that this narrative is misleading and that their encounters were consensual. He is now seeking justice through a lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court.
According to the lawsuit, Muckey insists that he did not engage in any non-consensual activity. In fact, he asserts that C.S. had previously reached out to him via Facebook Messenger years after their 2008 encounter, expressing gratitude for their time together and even complimenting his musical performance. “Awwww you’re really the best thanks for everything, yes, even the sex,” she allegedly wrote, which Muckey claims demonstrates her acknowledgment of their interactions as consensual.
Despite this, concerns about Muckey’s past resurfaced, prompting the Philharmonic to hire Levy Employment Law to conduct an investigation. Muckey, now 40, contends that the investigation was flawed and did not allow him to defend himself adequately. His lawyer stated that Muckey was not privy to the evidence against him, which has fueled Muckey’s desire to clear his name and return to the music scene.
In his legal documents, Muckey points to messages exchanged between him and C.S. that support his claim of consent. C.S. had allegedly expressed remorse for not informing her boyfriend about their encounters, which Muckey believes underscores the consensual nature of their relationship. The lawsuit also mentions that C.S. contacted him again in 2011, further indicating that there was no animosity between them at that time.
Muckey’s professional reputation is on the line as he faces significant challenges following his dismissal. According to his attorney, Steven Hyman, Muckey’s career has suffered irreparable damage due to the allegations and subsequent firing. He has struggled to find work in the music industry, which is particularly disheartening for someone who had been set to earn a base salary of $205,000 at the Philharmonic.
This is not the first time Muckey has encountered allegations of misconduct. In 2018, he and another musician from the Philharmonic faced accusations of serious nature, which led to their initial terminations. They were later reinstated through arbitration, a decision that Muckey’s attorney claims left him fully exonerated in that case. Notably, those earlier allegations did not involve C.S.
Today, Muckey is a family man, married with two children, and has found the inability to secure employment to be distressing. Hyman emphasizes that many potential job opportunities have slipped away due to the stigma surrounding Muckey’s prior allegations. He hopes that the ongoing legal process will lead to vindication, allowing Muckey to rebuild his career and reputation in the classical music community.
The New York Philharmonic has not commented publicly regarding Muckey’s lawsuit, and Levy Employment Law also declined to provide any input on the matter. As this situation unfolds, it will be critical to consider the implications of such allegations on the lives and careers of those involved. The complexities of consent and the consequences of false claims cannot be overlooked, especially in today’s climate where accusations can quickly alter one’s life forever. Muckey’s case highlights the need for fairness and thorough investigation in such matters, reminding us that the truth is often more complicated than it seems.
