Pianist Sues Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Claims He Was Silenced Over Gaza Remarks

Pianist Jayson Gillham, who played with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on Aug. 15, 2024. AAP Image/Supplied by Rémi Chauvin, via Emblem Artists

The Australian pianist whose concert was cancelled by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra after he interrupted an earlier performance to speak about the conflict in Gaza is taking the matter to the Federal Court, stating he was “silenced for speaking the truth.”

At a concert in Southbank on Aug. 11, Jayson Gillham deviated from the scheduled programme and played a short piece called Witness, written by Connor D’Netto, which is dedicated to journalists who have been killed in the Gaza conflict.

He told the audience that more than 100 Palestinian journalists had been killed, and that targeting journalists in a conflict was a war crime under international law.

The Orchestra later cancelled a subsequent performance “due to security concerns,” telling ticketholders in an email that Gillham’s statement was “an intrusion of personal political views on what should have been a morning focused on a program of works for solo piano.

“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,” the email reads.

Error Admitted

A few days later, the Orchestra admitted it had “made an error“ by cancelling the performance.

“We have been engaging constructively with Jayson and his management and are seeking to reschedule the concert,” a spokesperson said.

The head of the MSO, Sophie Galaise, resigned from her position after the Orchestra faced internal backlash, including a vote of no confidence from its musicians over the handling of Gillham’s comments.

The Orchestra also brought in former Midnight Oil frontman and MP Peter Garrett to head an independent review of its decision.

After almost three months of silence on the issue, Gillham announced on social media that he was “left with no other option but to pursue legal action” after receiving what he described as a “hostile” letter from lawyers acting for the Symphony, which he said rejected “reasonable requests to remedy the situation.”

“This battle in the federal court is about defending everyone’s right to freedom of speech. It’s about ensuring artists can perform with integrity and without fear of censorship,” he said.

The MSO confirmed it had been served with a statement of claim. “It is reviewing the documents and will respond at the appropriate time,” a spokesperson said.

It previously stated that its actions were “not about free speech” and that Gillham had not been discriminated against because of his political views.