A London college has cancelled a classical concert of new music, having admitted that the event slipped through its editorial policy.

Morley College was due to host a concert entitled “The World stands with Palestine – Compositions for the Palestinian struggle”  by Cornelius Cardew Concerts Trust (CCCT) on 15 November 2024. The graphic on the advert for the concert said “Stand with Palestine!! Stand with the Resistance!!” and the names of the compositions for piano, violin and electric mandolin included “Salute to the Resistance”, “Blood United Us” and “Al Shifa”.

UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) wrote to Morley College’s Principal, Dr Andrew Gower, pointing out that standing with the “Resistance” could imply support for sending rockets indiscriminately into Israel and sympathy for the actions of the terrorist group Hamas in Gaza.  This is particularly unpalatable given the terrible massacre of Jews and others on 7 October 2023.

UKLFI requested that the concert be cancelled because it would be intimidating and offensive for any Jewish, Israeli or Zionist visitors, and therefore in breach of the Equality Act 2010.

UKLFI pointed out that CCCT could be in breach of anti-terrorism legislation if the event went ahead at Morley College, including inviting support for a proscribed organization, contrary to Section 12(1) of the Terrorism Act 2000, and expressing an opinion or belief that is supportive of a terrorist organization in breach of Section 12(1A) of that Act.

Morley College, a registered charity, could also be in danger of breaching its charitable objects by staging a concert which would not be for the public benefit since it may stir up racial hatred against Jews and Israelis, and sympathise with terrorists.

Furthermore, Charity Commission guidelines do not allow charities to pursue political campaigns that do not further their charitable objects. The CCCT concert and its publicity appears to be a political campaign for the government of Gaza, Hamas.

The principal of Morley College, Dr Andrew Gower acted quickly to cancel the event, and told UKLFI: “Regrettably on this occasion, the proposed event slipped through the net of our editorial processes”. He explained that if it is reasonably foreseeable that the activity may raise issues that may be controversial in some way they should have written in to ask for permission, and this wasn’t done. He added: “I sincerely regret that members of the Jewish community have taken offence from the event and its promotion.”

Cornelius Cardew was an English experimental music composer, who was a former music tutor at Morley College London.  The Cornelius Cardew Concert Trust was set up to finance concerts of the music of Cornelius Cardew and encourage the writing and performance of new music.  Morley College has consistently supported the creation and performance of new music championed by Cornelius Cardew over the years.

Caroline Turner, UKLFI Director, said: We are pleased that Morley College acted quickly to cancel the concert, and that the College emphasises its political neutrality and impartiality. It is a shame that the Cornelius Cardew Concert Trust appears to have been hijacked by anti-Israel activists.”