MSO musicians pass vote of no confidence in management, board announces review

Musicians of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra have passed a vote of no confidence in senior management, prompting a promise from the board of an external review over the handling of a pianist who made comments at a recital relating to Gaza.

“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 musicians’ letter says.

Pianist Jayson Gillham.Credit: Simon Schluter

“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 MSO has been under fire since its decision to remove acclaimed pianist Jayson Gillham from a concert on Thursday night, after he dedicated a piece to journalists killed in Gaza, during a recital last Sunday.

On Thursday, the MSO said that decision was an “error” and cancelled the entire performance instead.

At Sunday’s recital, Gillham had been introducing a new work by Australian composer Connor D’Netto called Witness, and the MSO said it had received complaints about his introduction.

It is clear from the letter that although this week’s incident was the tipping point, musicians have had significant concerns about the culture at the MSO for years.

The letter continues: “Whilst this motion has been directly related to the events surrounding the cancellation this week, we see it as the culmination of years of unresolved concerns, ongoing mismanagement, and a consistent decline in workplace culture that has undermined the well-being of employees and the long-term success of the company. 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.”

Responding to the musicians’ letter with a statement, the MSO board said it would conduct “an independent external review into our policies, procedures and processes following this week’s decision to cancel the concert of Jayson Gillham”.

“The review will also canvass the events leading up to the decision to cancel the concert scheduled for 15 August, 2024,” the board statement said. “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 review will help ensure our policies and processes reflect best practice in the contemporary environment.”

As well as calling for managing director Sophie Galaise and chief operating officer Guy Ross to resign, the musicians’ letter asks 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 is a British-Australian pianist whom the MSO describes as “one of the finest pianists of his generation”.

The issue blew up earlier this week, after the Sunday recital, when the MSO sent a letter to attendees saying:“Witness was accepted for performance at the request of Mr Gillham on the basis that it was a short meditative piece. 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 said Gillham’s remarks were “made completely without authority”, writing: “The MSO does not condone the use of our stage as a platform for expressing personal views. The MSO understands that his remarks have caused offence 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.”

The Australian Music Students’ Association and the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance union this week issued statements supporting Gillham and his right to freedom of speech.

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