The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) will make its first-ever touring appearances in Israel, with performances in Jerusalem on May 11, 2017 and Tel Aviv on May 13, 2017.
The tour, coming just days before the 69th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba and less than a month before the 50th anniversary of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, ignores the Palestinian-led call for a cultural boycott of Israel, which has been supported by thousands of artists around the world to refuse to play in Israel.
Take Action
Here’s how you can take action to tell the TSO not to play for Israeli apartheid:
1. Sign and share the petition calling on TSO musicians to cancel their shows in Israel.
2. Contact the leadership of the TSO and demand they cancel the planned performances in Israel. If you’re not sure what to say, you can use key points from the petition to get started. Here are come key contacts:
Gary Hanson, Interim Chief Executive Officer
ghanson@tso.ca
Roberta Smith, Vice-President & Chief of Staff
rsmith@tso.ca
Peter Oundjian, Music Director
poudjian@tso.ca
You can also contact the TSO by email at contactus@tso.ca or by phone at 416.598.3375 and see a full contact list for other TSO administrative staff to contact.
3. If you are a TSO member, subscriber, donor, or volunteer, withhold your support until the TSO agrees to respect the Palestinian boycott call and cancels its concerts in Israel. Be sure to tell the TSO why you’re withdrawing you support.
4. Engage with the TSO on social media by posting a comment on their facebook page or tweet at them at @TorontoSymphony.
5. Write a letter to the editor of the Toronto Star (lettertoed@thestar.ca) and other Toronto media outlining your concerns with the TSO’s decision to perform in Israel.