Targeted by a new complaint for sexual assault, cellist Jérôme Pernoo defends himself in a letter addressed to his relatives

Cellist Jérôme Pernoo reacts after the new complaint against him from a former student, Bruno Philippe, for facts similar to those of which he is already suspected. Another investigation is, in fact, opened for sexual assault on a minor. In a letter addressed to his relatives to which France Musique had access Thursday March 16, 2023, Jérôme Pernoo writes that “This information amazes me”, “We are devastated by this news”.

In January, Bruno Philippe lodged a complaint against Jérôme Pernoo, his former teacher at the National Conservatory of Paris, “for reprehensible acts, similar to the other plaintiffs”, indicates Bruno Philippe’s lawyer to France Musique, who does not wish to go into details. The procedure is in progress, Bruno Philippe will explain himself during a hearing, wishes to underline Maître Patricia Moyersoen. The latter specifies that the facts occurred when her client was a minor and an adult, while he was a student at the conservatory. “There will undoubtedly be a confrontation with Jérôme Pernoo”she adds.

Bruno Philippe was a pupil of Jérôme Pernoo between the ages of 14 and 21

In his letter to his relatives, Jérôme Pernoo writes that he will not have “Certainly not aware of what Bruno reproaches me for for a month or two, if we except what we read in the press, of which I have been well placed, all this time, to know that it is often very far from the reality”. Jérôme Pernoo describes Bruno Philippe as very close, who first defended him against previous complaints of sexual assault on minors. Bruno Philippe counted “among my most active supporters throughout this period”. Jérôme Pernoo is to be tried in May by the Paris Criminal Court for sexual assault on a minor against one victim and sexual harassment against two victims.

“I still want to reassure you that my defenses with regard to this whole affair, and particularly this very unexpected new part, are considerable”, writes without further details Jérôme Pernoo. Unlike the other complainants, Bruno Philippe, a pupil of Jérôme Pernoo between the ages of 14 and 21, had initially defended his teacher, when the latter had been suspended by the National Conservatory of Paris after an internal investigation. Refuting the conclusions of the investigation which reported inappropriate behavior by Jérôme Pernoo, the cellist then spoke to France Musique “squabbles between teacher and student for purely technical issues”.