Earlier this year, acclaimed Australian concert pianist Jayson Gillham sued the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for unlawful discrimination over their cancelling of a concert he was set to perform in August 2024 following his dedication of a solo piece to journalists in Gaza who had been targeted and killed by Israel.

This month, Jayson lost his case as a Justice rejected his contention that the MSO took “adverse actions” against him because of his statements.

“My programming – up until now – has not had an overtly political stance. But for me, Gaza was just a red line, it was just too much. I actually said to my agent ‘I don’t want to play the piano again if I can’t talk about this issue’, and I think it’s a once in a lifetime, once in a generation kind of thing, it’s so important.”