Melbourne musicians turn against their management
NewsMusicians of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra have just passed a vote of no confidence in their management. ‘We no longer have faith in the abilities of our senior management to make decisions that are in the best interests of the company at large,’ they said in a letter.
The motion was connected to the cancelling, and de-cancelling, this week of a pianist who used the stage for making an anti-Israel statement that was seen by some MSO supporters as antisemitic. The handling of the issue was, by any measure, inept.
But the discontent goes way back. ‘Whilst this motion has been directly related to the events surrounding the cancellation this week, we see it as the culmination of years of unresolved concerns, ongoing mismanagement, and a consistent decline in workplace culture that has undermined the well-being of employees and the long-term success of the company. We no longer have faith in the abilities of our senior management to make decisions that are in the best interests of the company at large,’ the players said.
The managing director is a Canadian ex-flautist, Sophie Galaise (pictured). Also cited for blame is COO Guy Ross.
In the job for the past eight years, Galaise is in a very hot seat right now. Today’s Australian Financial Review’s headline reads: ‘Everyone is angry at Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, even its musicians’
UPDATE: Here’s the complete text of the musicians’ letter:
Friday, 16th August 2024
TO: The Board of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
c/o Demetrio Zima, Company Secretary, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
FROM: The Musicians of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
________________________________________________________________________
On behalf of the musicians of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, we wish to formally
express a Vote of No Confidence in Managing Director Sophie Galaise and Chief
Operating Officer Guy Ross. We have come to this decision by way of overwhelming
majority vote, held on the evening of August 15th, 2024.
We believe it is the duty of senior management to lead and manage in accordance with the
MSO’s Values and Behaviours, however it has become apparent that these values no
longer appear to be aligned with those of the Orchestra and staff. Furthermore, despite
ongoing attempts to engage with senior leadership and provide feedback through formal
channels; including committee consultations, employee culture surveys and internal
grievance procedures, the response from management has been insufficient, and in many
cases dismissive. The result has been a work environment characterised by poor
communication, a lack of accountability, and continuingly declining morale. More seriously,
numerous decisions made without consultation with staff and musicians have resulted in
significant negative artistic and financial impacts on the MSO, as well as on our perception
as an arts leader in Victoria and Australia. The gravity of the current situation faced by the
organisation this week concerning the cancellation of Jayson Gillham as soloist has only
served to highlight these issues, and demonstrate this continued pattern of behaviour.
The members of the orchestra in no way take this decision lightly, but believe that this
decision is vital for the ongoing viability of the company given the degree to which the
MSO’s reputation has been called into disrepute. Whilst this motion has been directly
related to the events surrounding the cancellation this week, we see it as the culmination
of years of unresolved concerns, ongoing mismanagement, and a consistent decline in
workplace culture that has undermined the well-being of employees and the long-term
success of the company. We no longer have faith in the abilities of our senior management
to make decisions that are in the best interests of the company at large.
In writing to you, the musicians are calling for the immediate stand down of Managing
Director Sophie Galaise and Chief Operating Officer Guy Ross and calling for a full and
impartial investigation into both the events of the cancellation of Jayson Gillham this week,
and further into the general standards of leadership that have lead to the ongoing issues
with communication, morale, and psychosocial hazards affecting our workforce.
We would request that an independent investigator is appointed by the Board and
approved by musicians and staff, with the results of any investigation enabling the
company to move forward on a united front, with the ability to rebuild our reputation and
ensure the security of our future as an orchestra. In their place in the meantime, we seek
interim leaders who will engage genuinely with staff, foster a culture of mutual respect and
collaboration, and prioritise the long-term health and sustainability of our organisation.
We are committed to seeing the MSO return to its position as an artistic leader in its field,
guided by the principles and behaviours enshrined in our company values. This requires a
transformative shift in our organisational culture, driven by leadership that embodies
transparency, empathy, and accountability. Our goal is to create a workplace that not only
excels artistically but also prioritises the well-being and development of every member of
our organisation.
Sincerely,
The Musicians of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Another discord between players and management. To adapt an adage – those who can, play; those who can’t administer.
People should certainly be annoyed with the pianist who abused the concert platform for a thinly-disguised attack – parotting the propaganda of an internationally-recognised terrorist organisation – on Israel.
Just admit that you’re all for genocide
Kudos to the MSO musicians for their letter in spite of the MD’s ban earlier this week from commenting on social media. My former colleagues are not overstating the level of managerial incompetence and decline in the workplace culture under Ms Galaise. One hopes that the review will lead to the departure of the MD and her toxic culture.
Galaise has been a big part of the problem for years, but the current situation has also been monumentally badly handled by our new Director of Programming, a recent hire from Scotland who has been rubbing people up the wrong way since the moment he arrived.
From the MSO website:
“We cast our net far and wide and following an exhaustive international recruitment process have landed an exceptional programmer in Andrew Moore,” says Galaise. “His breadth of programming and producing experience, impressive international networks, and strong business acumen will ensure that the MSO’s artistic vision and strategy will continue to engage and inspire our musicians and audiences well into the future.”
As Head of Music for the Edinburgh International Festival, Moore led the strategy for classical music curation and presentation, along the way building fruitful relationships with an array of major international orchestras, conductors, and musicians. He also had oversight of the Edinburgh Festival Chorus with up to 180 choristers.
The above still doesn’t mean he does not “rub people the wrong way”…..
This is only the tip of the iceberg. Anyone who digs will find MSO musicians are a very sick bunch of humans up to their necks in illicit drugs and weird sex scandals. They’re often grandiose and delusional about their musical abilities and the extent of their political influence. If any decent journalist asked the right questions they’ll reveal MSO to have a profoundly harmful and toxic culture. Musicians who leave the orchestra tend to take years to recover from chaos and mayhem they endured whilst employed by MSO. Now that everyone has a legitimate grievance with MSO (the IDF, Israel, journalists Hamas, the musicians, the management, the stakeholders, and the public) , perhaps it would be best if they simply permanently shut down the orchestra. Let the musicians busk for a living and preach their personal political opinions on the street corners.
Tell us more.
Sophie fled Canada after very nearly ruining one of its orchestras, got another job in Australia and promptly hired Alondra de la parra. She is a terrible manager and a manipulative liar, the sooner the MSO can get her out the better. Boards take note: she leaves a trail of suck everywhere, don’t be fooled a 4th time.
Hiring Alondra alone is proof of incompetence.
Paging CBSO players. It can be done!
If overgrown students throughout the West think they can bully their employers into submission regarding a whole host of Left Wing ‘activist’ issues they need to reminded they are welcome to seek employment elsewhere.
If the organisations capitulate they will not survive.
Being left-wing or right-wing is not bad in itself. The problem arises when the “wing” thing becomes a liferope for a failed professional career. Well, some people are even born into being “activists” so they have no professions to fail :o)
Just think what Emma Stenning could do in Australia!
Management issues aside, a soloist has no business making political statements when they are standing in front of the orchestra that booked them (if that’s indeed what happened). Maybe in a solo recital, but anyone on stage with you gets tied to your comments and shouldn’t be pulled in without their consent.
I understood it WAS a solo recital.
It was a solo recital, he had just played a piece by Ligeti in which he also talked about the horrors of the holocaust. He was not expressing personal opinion, he was announcing the piece (which was about the journalists killed in Gaza) and only said facts.
His comments were made in a solo recital
I understood he introduced the new piece in context as it was called ‘Witness’, as there had been another new piece also, in memory of the holocaust. Do you also find that offensive?
Management did the right thing. Disguised antisemitism should not be tolerated, but that is too much to ask. Where is the outrage for atrocities around the rest of the world? Why is no one asking for the return of hostages?
Everyone wants the hostages home safely except the current Israeli regime. Hamas agreed to return all the hostages months ago so Israel assassinated the Palestinian negotiator, and his children, and his grandchildren. Like it or not terrorism is a political label used by government to justify acts of barbarism that far outweigh the actions of the people fighting for their freedom and human rights.
For clarity then, whenever an atrocity occurs, mentions of what had occured by the other side should equally be mentioned, in all contexts? Or is this something that only applies to what you care about?
It’s what is called ‘the wrong narrative.’
“an anti-Israel statement”
The phrase is ambiguous. it could mean: (a) a statement expressing opposition to the very existence of Israel; (b) a statement critical of some action of Israel’s. It appears that the pianist made an anti-Israel statement only in sense (b).
Pretty stupid as an orchestra and their salaries cannot survive on butts in seats alone. As we have read the biggest block of donors that support their symphonies and plays their salaries are Jews of a certain age who heavily support Israel. So the management who has now rolled on their blacks and said Uncle did the right thing by their revenue stream, the orchestra conversely are mostly young and uneducated on Middle East history and are like a bunch of American university students in the same way. All I have to say is oy vey and hope they survive and the donor money doesn’t go to other good works.
Apologies for being a bit slow, but I’m seriously not quite clear if the MSO are angry because Jayson Gillham was cancelled, or rehired.
Thanks.
There is no record that I can find of the same pianist making a similar statement condemning the Hamas pogrom of October 7, 2013, in which 1,200 Jew were murdered, and 250 abducted.
I have been a member of several Orchestra Member committees negotiating with management so I know what this is about. Incompetent management wanting the musicians to compensate for their incompetence! San Francisco is the worst I have ever seen from a major orchestra!
Nothing about it was antisemitic. It was pure facts – giving the background to the composition of the piece, just as he gave the background to the Ligeti piece he performed, and the context as Ligeti was a holocaust survivor. He didn’t mention anything extraneous to his program. Do you know any piano pieces written about the hostages? Feel free to send them to a pianist and they can perform it if they like the music.
Apparently a night of compassion is only okay for some
Whatever other problems there may be political statements from the stage are COMPLETELY unacceptable.
Mediocre orchestra. Stopped listening after Stenz left
This ranting, rambling, ridiculous message from MSO is revealing. It seems pretty clear that the musicians are on Jayson Gillham’s side. We know that Gillham has made posts on X that advanced the agenda of Hamas, and now it seems the entire MSO is in the trenches with the Islamic extremists! The MSO is full of far leftists and megalomaniacs. Their antisemitic sentiments are clear.
Why is it so difficult for MSO musicians to understand that people come to orchestral concerts because they want to her music – not misguided, fact-free political speeches?
It would most definitely be in the best interests of the Jewish community and government to withdraw all of their funding from MSO. It seems the musicians don’t care about the 1200 people who were murdered on October 7th and they’re far more interested in sanctimonious activism than making music.
Also telling that the board and wider management retained their positions during covid on full pay while the orchestra members whom they are appointed to support were stood down
Politics has become the end careers of artists, too. No surprise the West is crumbling.
Please remember the cemetery is full of indispensable people….on both sides…
What was the statement that the pianis made?