Melbourne Symphony Orchestra beats pianist over Gaza

A British-Australian pianist has lost his lawsuit against the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra after it canceled his performance following onstage comments he made about journalists killed in Gaza. Federal Court Justice Graeme Hill ruled on Friday, July 10, 2026, that the orchestra acted legitimately to protect its business and reputation, finding that the political content of the pianist's remarks was not the primary reason for the cancellation.

The case centered on an August 11, 2024, recital where pianist Jayson Gillham, 39, performed a short piece titled "Witness," composed by Connor D'Netto. Gillham dedicated the performance to Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza, telling the audience that more than 100 had been killed and that targeting journalists constituted a war crime. Four days later, the orchestra canceled a scheduled performance by Gillham on August 15, 2024, and later removed him from the event entirely.

In his judgment, Justice Hill stated that workplace protections did not extend to Gillham due to his status as an independent contractor. He found the orchestra had a policy of not expressing support for either side of the Israel-Gaza conflict and that a custom...