MSO votes to kick out senior leadership due to treatment of pro-Palestine pianist
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has voted to kick out their senior management after an acclaimed pianist was removed from a performance because he spoke in support of journalists who died in Gaza.
August 16, 2024
Pianist Jayson Gillham dedicated a solo to journalists in Gaza. Picture: David Dyson
The musicians of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra have sensationally passed a vote of no confidence in their senior management, after an acclaimed pianist was removed from a performance because he spoke in support of journalists who died in Gaza.
In a letter to the MSO’s board, musicians said the orchestra’s reputation had been “called into disrepute” over the ongoing scandal and highlighted “years of unresolved concerns” within the company.
“We believe it is the duty of senior management to lead and manage in accordance with the MSO’s Values and Behaviours, however it has become apparent that these values no longer appear to be aligned with those of the Orchestra and staff,” the letter read.
At a concert on Sunday, Jayson Gillham dedicated a solo to journalists in Gaza — then had his following concert on Thursday cancelled.
The letter to the board was due to a ‘culmination’ of cultural issues in the company. Picture: Supplied
The musicians said the actions of managing director Sophie Galaise and chief operating officer Guy Ross were not reflective of the company’s values and behaviours — and their “insufficient” and “dismissive” responses to attempted mediation left them with no other choice.
“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 email read.
“The members of the orchestra in no way take this decision lightly, but believe that this decision is vital for the ongoing viability of the company given the degree to which the MSO’s reputation has been called into disrepute.”
The musicians said the work environment at the organisation had been characterised by “poor communication, a lack of accountability and … declining morale”.
The letter also stated that while the no-confidence vote had been triggered by the treatment of Mr Gillham this week, it was in fact the culmination of years of angst among the musicians towards management, and a “constant decline of workplace culture”.
“Despite ongoing attempts to engage with senior leadership and provide feedback through formal channels — including committee consultations, employee culture surveys and internal grievance procedures — the response from management has been insufficient, and in many cases dismissive.”
In a short speech before his piano solo, Mr Gillham said the role of the journalist was to “document” and “witness”.
“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,” he said at the time.
“In addition to the role of journalists who bear witness, the word witness in Arabic is shaheed, which also means martyr.”
MSO votes to boot leaders for cancelling pianist over Gaza remarks (archive.is)