The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has rejected a request for compensation from Jayson Gillham as the cancelled pianist’s claim that he was discriminated against for expressing a political opinion moves closer to court.

In a letter sent to Gillham on Friday, the MSO’s legal representative, Arnold Bloch Leibler partner Leon Zwier, said the pianist had aired political views “improperly” and “caused distress to many members of the audience”, before declining to appear at an August 15 concert, which the MSO ultimately cancelled citing safety concerns.