Orchestra’s Israel stance scrutinised in court hearing
The former chief executive of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has been accused of lying to the organisation’s board of directors about canceling a concert by pianist Jayson Gillham.
In his 2024 MSO performance, the British-Australian artist dedicated a composition to journalists killed in Gaza, saying they were deliberately targeted by Israel, and the orchestra responded by canceling its next concert.
The pianist is suing the orchestra in the Federal Court for unfair dismissal.
Former chief executive Sophie Galaise was accused of lying when she told the organisation’s board of directors that she knew Gillham had withdrawn from the upcoming gig, when in fact it had been cancelled.
“You use words, like any human being, and to me they’re probably interchangeable,” she said, under cross-examination by Gillham’s attorney, Sheryn Omeri KC.
“I understand the difference, but that’s how I wrote it.”
Dr Galaise was dismissed two weeks after the concert and was also a defendant in the Federal Court case, but his dispute with Gillham was resolved in March 2025 and his separate Fair Work claim against the MSO was also resolved.
When asked if he was concerned that Gillham’s onstage comments were critical of Israel, Dr. Galaise said he was concerned these were done without MSO’s prior knowledge.
“This was not approved, it was an extremely sensitive political message… it could have some impact on our organisation,” he said.
Gillham’s lawyers noted that MSO’s various donors include the Gandel Foundation and the Besen Family Foundation, both of which have funded philanthropic efforts in Australia and Israel.
Immediately following a leadership meeting in response to the escalating crisis caused by Gillham’s concert, Dr. Galaise is scheduled to discuss his upcoming MSO European tour, funded in part by a $600,000 donation from the Gandel Foundation.
When asked, Dr Galaise was unsure whether he had said at the meeting that taking a pro-Palestinian stance would put MSO’s future funding at risk.
The court heard that MSO consulted stakeholders for months before adopting a neutral position on the Gaza conflict.
During cross-examination, Dr. Galaise disagreed that the internal briefing statement on the conflict was not objective and took a pro-Israel stance because it failed to assign responsibility for Palestinian suffering.
Dr Galaise also disagreed that Jewish concertgoers and donors were determined to have their way and that nothing could cause Gillham to rethink his decision to cancel his next concert.
“I was particularly concerned about maintaining a balanced position of neutrality,” he said.
He also questioned the accuracy of the meeting minutes read to the court; It was stated that two MSO board members, including current president Edgar Myer, expressed interest in the orchestra adopting a pro-Israel stance.
Various classical composers were also heard at the hearing, including Chopin, Rossini, Schubert and Bach; Gillham’s lawyer stated that each of them composed music of a political nature.
Dr Galaise said he had no opinion of other composers using their music to express their political beliefs.
The trial will continue on Monday.
