Jailed on Sex Abuse Charges, Violin Coach Fired

A local violin coach , was well respected by students, parents and colleagues, according to his former employer.

Until his arrest Feb. 14, Culver City resident Julian Hallmark worked for Elemental Strings, a small, nonprofit youth orchestra based in Santa Monica. He was hired in September 2011, and was terminated immediately following his arrest, said Executive and Artistic Director Josephine Liu Moerschel.

"We were subsequently informed that his arrest involved allegations unrelated to his music students and/or teaching responsibilities, including Elemental Strings," Liu Moerschel wrote in an email. "We have not received any complaints concerning Mr. Hallmark's conduct while employed as a sectional instructor with Elemental Strings."

Hallmark is being held in lieu of $1 million bail. He was charged with three felony charges, including two counts of lewd acts on a child and one count of attempted lewd act on a child, and one misdemeanor charge of child molestation.

He has pleaded not guilty.

A staff biography on the Elemental Strings website described Hallmark as a sought-after chamber musician who traveled the globe. He was identified as a co-founder of the Concertante Chamber Players based in New York and has been concertmaster for the Aspen Valley Chamber Orchestra in Colorado for 11 years. He also performed regularly with the Crown City String Quartet in Bend, OR.

Elemental Strings was founded 2004 to inspire students and support the ’s elementary school music program, according to its website.

"The safety and welfare of our students is, and always has been, our first priority," Liu Moerschel added.