The Juilliard School has announced that Robert Beaser has been put on leave following allegations of sexual abuse.

The news comes after a report by Van magazine reported that Beaser, the department’s former chair, and current faculty member, faced multiple, previously-undisclosed allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct from the late 1990s and 2000s.

According to the report, “the allegations against Beaser range from repeated sexual advances to sexual relationships with students. Other young composers in the department believe these relationships influenced Beaser’s decision-making as department chair.” Moreover, the move comes the same day some 500 musicians and classical music leaders signed an open letter calling for action over his alleged “decades-long abuse of women and power”.

In a statement, a Juilliard spokesperson said, “Sexual discrimination and sexual harassment have no place in our school community. We take all such allegations extremely seriously.”

Beaser told the New York Post, “I am more than willing to participate in Juilliard’s outside investigation in order to protect and defend my reputation. Until the school concludes this process, I have agreed to be on leave from my teaching position.”