Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Announces Policy Review After Criticized for Canceling Concert of Anti-Israel Pianist
Shiryn Ghermezian
The skyline of Melbourne, Australia, the capital of Victoria. Photo: Alex Proimos/Wikimedia Commons.
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) said on Friday that its board will conduct an “independent external review into our policies, procedures, and processes” in light of its decision this week to cancel a performance by Australian-British pianist Jayson Gillham after he made ardently anti-Israel comments about the ongoing war in Gaza.
MSO said the review will also “canvass the events” leading up to its decision to call off Gillham’s concert that was scheduled for this Thursday. More information about the review will be revealed when details are finalized.
“The board determined a formal review would provide transparency and certainty for our people — including our musicians, management, and employees — and our broader community of audience members, supporters, and other stakeholders,” the MSO said. “The review will help ensure our policies and processes reflect best practice in the contemporary environment.”
The MSO added that it is “determined to ensure we have the protocols in place that are fit for purpose for our organization and the role we play within the community.”
The formal review was announced after musicians of the MSO passed on Thursday night a vote of no confidence in Managing Director Sophie Galaise and Chief Operating Officer Guy Ross because of how they handled the situation with Gillham.
“We no longer have faith in the abilities of our senior management to make decisions that are in the best interests of the company at large,” the orchestra’s musicians said in a letter to the board. “We believe it is the duty of senior management to lead and manage in accordance with the MSO’s values and behaviors; however, it has become apparent that these values no longer appear to be aligned with those of the orchestra and staff.”
The musicians called for Ross and Galaise’s resignations. They also asked for an “impartial investigation into both the events of the cancellation of Jayson Gillham this week, and further into the general standards of leadership that have led to the ongoing issues with communication, morale, and psychosocial hazards affecting our workforce.”
Gillham, who is described on the MSO website as “one of the finest pianists of his generation,” performed the world premiere of a five-minute piece called “Witness” at his recital on Sunday at Iwaki Auditorium in Southbank, where he also performed a number of other works by composers such as Beethoven and Chopin. The piece was written by Australian composer Connor D’Netto and dedicated to Palestinian journalists. The MSO said it was a last-minute addition to the show.
When introducing the piece to the audience, Gillham claimed, “Israel had killed more than 100 Palestinian journalists” in the Gaza Strip during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. “The killing of journalists is a war crime in international law, and it is done in an effort to prevent the documentation and broadcasting of war crimes to the world,” Gillham also claimed before playing “Witness.” He additionally accused Israel of “targeted assassinations of prominent journalists” who were traveling in marked press vehicles or wearing press jackets.
On social media, the pianist has accused Israel of occupation, genocide, ethnic cleansing, colonialism, and apartheid. He has promoted the slogan “Free Palestine” and wrote in an Instagram post uploaded on April 2: “Every day is a day closer to the end of the Z!%nist regime in Pa/est|ne and the Z!%nist stranglehold on Western nations.” He criticized Western countries for supporting Israel and compared the “genocide” of Palestinians in Gaza to the Holocaust. On Instagram, he has a “highlight” dedicated to the anti-Israel boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement, which he encourages others to follow.
On X/Twitter, Gillham reposted a message in which Zionists are compared to Nazis and a separate post that said Israel’s goals in Gaza are “civilian deaths and destruction.” Gillham said the latter claim “seems obvious but worth repeating.” He also reposted a message about US President Joe Biden and his vice president, 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, that called them “Genocide Joe and Kamala Harris” for “using the ‘we need a ceasefire now to release the hostages!’ line for 6 months to launder the ongoing Gaza genocide and rape of Palestinians by the Israelis they vow to forever arm and fund.” Gillham has also made accusations about Australia’s “complicity in genocide” for supporting Israel.
Photo: Screenshot
Photo: Screenshot
Photo: Screenshot
Photo: Screenshot
The pianist was set to perform again at the Melbourne Town Hall on Thursday with the MSO, but the latter canceled his appearance in the recital because of his comments about Israel. The entire concert has since been cancelled due to safety concerns, according to the MSO. The orchestra said it is trying to reschedule the performance.
On Wednesday, MSO admitted it made an “error” in canceling the performance.
“While the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra maintains that a concert platform is not an appropriate stage for political comment, we acknowledge Jayson’s concerns for those in the Middle East and elsewhere,” a MSO spokesperson told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). “We recognize the strength of feelings of all parties on this matter and particularly acknowledge the dedication and commitment demonstrated by all our musicians and staff this week.”
Gillham accepted the MSO’s apology. He said in a statement to the ABC, “I hold my relationship with the MSO, its players, and audience with the highest regard and look forward to our continued working relationship in years to come.”
When MSO canceled Gillham’s appearance in Thursday’s recital, it sent an email to ticketholders explaining their position on the matter and apologizing for Gillham’s remarks. The MSO said his comments were “made completely without authority.”
“‘Witness’ was accepted for performance at the request of Mr Gillham on the basis that it was a short meditative piece,” the MSO explained. “Mr Gillham made his personal remarks without seeking the MSO’s approval or sanction. They were an intrusion of personal political views on what should have been a morning focused on a program of works for solo piano.”
“The MSO does not condone the use of our stage as a platform for expressing personal views,” it added. “The MSO understands that his remarks have caused offense and distress and offers a sincere apology … In standing for humanity and peace we seek for every one of our performances to be a welcome and safe place for all.”
A quick glance at the donors listed on the MSO website shows that the orchestra has a large number of Jewish patrons and supporters.
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