Melbourne Symphony Cancels Concert Citing ‘Safety Concerns’ Amid Pianist’s Gaza Stance
Published on August 15, 2024
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) has cancelled a concert at Melbourne Town Hall on Aug. 15 due to security concerns amid the global fallout of the Israel-Hamas war. The orchestra dropped pianist Jayson Gillham following comments he made in relation to Gaza journalists at another performance on Aug. 11. While the orchestra now claims it was an error to can Gillham, the concert is still unable to proceed in light of “independent security advice.” Gillham, an Australian-born pianist who lives in the UK, expressed concerns about the “targeted assassinations of prominent journalists.” “Over the last 10 months, Israel has killed more than 100 Palestinian journalists,” Gillham reportedly said at the concert....