The pianist Jayson Gillham has responded to a public letter from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s (MSO) legal representatives, Arnold Bloch Leibler (ABL), accusing the orchestra of discrimination and infringing on his rights to freedom of expression.

In a statement issued yesterday, 1 September, Gillham expressed his disappointment with the tone and content of ABL’s letter, released on 30 August.

The letter was a response to Gillham’s initial correspondence with the MSO on 22 August, in which he raised concerns about his treatment following a recital at the Iwaki Auditorium on 11 August.

Jayson Gillham. Photo supplied

The controversy began during this recital when Gillham performed a piece titled Witness, composed by Connor D’Netto. Before playing it, Gillham provided context about the piece’s dedication to journalists in Gaza, noting the deaths of Palestinian journalists. The next day, Gillham was informed by the MSO that his upcoming concert on 15 August had been cancelled, a move that the pianist now claims was due to his political statements during the recital.

In his latest statement, Gillham outlines a chronology of events that he says demonstrates the MSO’s unjust treatment of him. He notes that...