MSO Compromising Freedom of Expression

Media release – Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, 14 August 2024

MSO must take full responsibility for its over-reach

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra must take full responsibility and rectify a crisis of its own making when it stood down pianist Jayson Gillham for comments about the human toll of the war in Gaza, says the union representing the company’s musicians.

The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance says the sanctioning of Mr Gillham is a major over-reach and compromises artistic freedom of expression.

“MEAA members stand in solidarity with Jayson, who has been treated appallingly by the management of the MSO,” said MEAA Chief Executive Erin Madeley.

“On Sunday, he played a short, reflective instrumental piece that has been composed in response to the deaths of more than 100 journalists since the war began last October.

“He introduced the piece by putting it in context and explaining the horrific toll the war has had on press freedom and journalism in Gaza.

“The response by the management of MSO has been disproportionate and is offensive to the principles of artistic expression. It has caused enormous hurt and distress to Jayson and is disrespectful to his fellow musicians – and to our journalist colleagues in Gaza.

“As the union for all media and creative workers – including musicians and journalists – MEAA supports the freedom to express opinions without fear of silencing, censorship or retribution.

“The careers of creative workers should not be damaged or restricted because of opinions they have expressed through their art.

“We take all allegations of censorship and harassment extremely seriously and will support our members in their freedom to express political opinions without retribution.

“Musicians and audiences deserve much better from one of Australia’s premier arts companies.”

Coalition and Labor politicians supporting Apartheid

The ABC: “The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has cancelled an upcoming performance of Australian-British classical pianist Jayson Gillham after he made comments about the killing of Palestinian journalists in Gaza during a recital.”

Jayson Gillham is correct and the MSO shamefully wrong. The leading medical journal The Lancet estimated 186,000 Gaza deaths  from violence and imposed deprivation (5 July 2024), and data from Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor indicate that the 186,000 Gaza dead include about 45,000 killed violently (including 8,000 buried under rubble), 136,000 children, 17,000 women, 33,000 men, 500 health professionals, and 150 journalists. On a per capita normalised basis Apartheid Israel leads the world in the killing of children and journalists.

While Coalition and Labor politicians make political capital over ‘security’ and ‘foreign interference’ they disgracefully ignore Apartheid Israeli and traitorous Zionist subversion of Australians and Australian institutions. The freedom of expression of pro-human rights university students, academics, journalists and now classical pianists is under foreign attack.

At the next election decent and patriotic Australians will determine that Coalition and Labor politicians supporting Apartheid Israel and hence the vile crime of Apartheid are utterly unfit for public life and public office in a one-person-one-vote democracy.

– Dr Gideon Polya, Macleod, Victoria