Violinist Sarah Streatfeild, one of four string players
suspended by the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO), is taking a
claim for discrimination on the grounds of belief to an employment
tribunal, reports the
Guardian.
Streatfeild, along with violinists Tom Eisner and Nancy Elan, and
cellist Sue Sutherley, was suspended for six months last September
after she signed a joint letter calling on the BBC Proms to cancel
a concert by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
The letter to the Independent newspaper identified the
musicians as members of the LPO. Explaining the suspensions at the
time, the LPO's chief executive Timothy Walker and chairman Martin
Hohmann said: 'The orchestra would never restrict the right of its
players to express themselves freely, however such expression has
to be independent of the LPO itself.'
Shazia Khan, of Streatfeild's solicitors, Bindmans, told the
Guardian: 'Making a stand about the invitation to the
Israel Philharmonic Orchestra was a question of conscience for my
client. Mrs Streatfeild is devastated that her career and
livelihood was stopped by the LPO and in such an abrupt and public
manner immediately after she expressed her beliefs.'
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