The musicians of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) have issued a vote of no confidence in their board after it cancelled the show of a pianist who had dedicated his performance to the Palestinian journalists killed by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.

In a letter to management, the musicians said the scandal had brought the orchestra “into disrepute” and brought to light “years of unresolved problems,” Australia’s Herald Sun reported on Friday.

“We believe it is the duty of management to lead and manage in accordance with the values ​​and behaviors of the MSO. However, it has become apparent that these values ​​no longer appear to align with those of the orchestra and staff,” the musicians’ letter states.

On Sunday, British-Australian pianist Jayson Gillham presented a five-minute piece entitled Witness.

“In the last ten months, Israel has killed more than 100 Palestinian journalists,” Gillham told the audience before the play’s performance.

“Some of these attacks were targeted assassinations of prominent journalists who were travelling in marked press vehicles or wearing their press jackets. The killing of journalists is a war crime under international law and is committed to prevent the documentation and broadcast of war crimes to the world.

“In addition to the role of journalists who bear witness, the Arabic word ‘witness’ is also ‘shaheed’ and means ‘martyr.'”

Following the concert, the MSO announced that it had cancelled Gillham’s performance of Mozart and Brahms, scheduled for Thursday at Melbourne Town Hall, due to “a number of introductory remarks”.

The orchestra said that Witness was performed “on the basis that it was a short, meditative piece”, but personal comments were made “without seeking the approval or sanction of the MSO”.

MSO admits “mistake”

The cancellation of his concert because he dedicated a song to the murdered Palestinian journalists was heavily criticized, including by Australian artists and musicians.

The Australian Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) expressed “concern” about the development.

“Musical and artistic expression have long been a vehicle for political commentary and a lens through which we view the world,” it said.

“MEAA members stand in solidarity with Jayson Gillham and the journalists working in Palestine.”

The MSO backtracked on Thursday and admitted that cancelling Gillham’s performance had been a “mistake.”

The company said it had sought “independent security advice” following Sunday’s concert and, in light of that advice, “it had no choice but to cancel Gillham’s next show.”

“While the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra believes that a concert stage is not an appropriate venue for political commentary, we acknowledge Jayson’s concern for the people of the Middle East and elsewhere,” it said.

“We recognize the strong feelings of all parties on this matter and particularly acknowledge the dedication and commitment shown by all of our musicians and staff this week.”

The company said it had spoken to Gillham and his management and was trying to reschedule the canceled concert.

Despite this turnaround, the MSO musicians voted to dismiss the orchestra conductors.

“We no longer have confidence in the ability of our senior management to make decisions that are in the best interest of the entire company,” they said.

The MSO’s official X-Account was made private this week following the incident.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 113 journalists have been killed since the current war began on October 7.

At least 108 of them are Palestinians, two Israelis and three Lebanese.

In addition, 32 other journalists have been injured, two are missing and at least 52 have been arrested in the last ten months of war.