Music lovers gathered in front of the 麻豆精选 Community Theatre on Dec. 15, to protest and inform concertgoers about the firing of Rosemary Thomson, the former Okanagan Symphony Orchestra Conductor and Music Director.
Thomson鈥檚 termination on Dec. 1, came as a surprise to many as she had been planning to retire at the end of the 2023/2024 musical season, after more than 16 years of service. News of her termination became public after an internal email from the board of directors was leaked to the media on Dec. 6.
Charl Coetzee, a parent who used to be involved with the Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra when his children were young, attended the protest. Coetzee said that he is upset by manner of the board鈥檚 decision to terminate Thomson and hopes that the members reconsider.
He and the seven other protesters in attendance adorned their 鈥楤ring Back Rosemary鈥� signs with Christmas lights. They passed out information packets and spoke with concertgoers outside of the Community Theatre about the situation surrounding Thomson鈥檚 termination.
Some orchestral performers and patrons thanked Coetzee and the others for standing up for Thomson. Conversely, some people expressed displeasure with the presence of the protesters and disagreed with their views.
READ MORE: Crescendo of allegations at Okanagan symphony after musical director鈥檚 firing
Coetzee said that he fears that a domino effect from Thomson鈥檚 termination could have dire consequences for performers and patrons of the Okanagan orchestra, including the youth group. He explained that a lack of continuity and leadership could impact the future of the orchestra.
A statement from Thomson鈥檚 legal team at FH&P alleges that her termination was prompted by a concert on Nov. 18, called Amplify, which featured performances that allegedly fell outside of the orchestra鈥檚 traditional 鈥渃lassical roots.鈥�
The information package handed out by the protesters also alleges that 鈥淸Thomson鈥檚] termination was based on production concerns with the Amplify concert鈥� 鈥淭his was a non-traditional concert which highlighted Indigenous and queer artists.鈥�
The protesters defended Thomson鈥檚 role in the concert, alleging that the production of the event was a shared responsibility with the Okanagan Symphony Society.
Capital News reached out to Judy Burns, the president of the Okanagan Symphony Society, for comment on the protest and the allegations that Thomson鈥檚 termination is in relation to the Amplify concert, but did not receive a response by the publication deadline.
However, the Symphony Society has previously stated that they will not be disclosing any specific details relating to the board鈥檚 decision to terminate Thomson.
鈥淭he board is in a challenging position as the information currently being shared publicly represents a partial perspective of the situation and understandably creates questions,鈥� said Burns, on behalf of the Symphony Society, in a previous media response.
The Okanagan Symphony Society alleges that it had cause for terminating Thomson鈥檚 contract and Burns said that the board of directors consulted experts before making the decision.
Thomson has stated that she will be pursuing legal action for wrongful dismissal.
READ MORE: Community expresses displeasure with Okanagan Orchestra conductor termination
