On Dec. 1, an email circulated amongst the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra (OSS) board, and later leaked to the media, stating that long-time music coordinator and conductor Rosemary Thomson had been fired.

Thomson, who had been with the OSS for more than 16 years, was to retire at the end of the 2023/24 OSS season.

Lawyers representing Thomson released a statement alleging she was terminated abruptly and without merit after directing a concert that allegedly fell outside of the organization鈥檚 鈥渃lassical roots.鈥�

The OSS board of directors released a statement rebutting the allegations stating that it had cause for terminating Thomson鈥檚 contract and that the board consulted experts before making the decision.

There has been much support for Thomson and calls to reinstate her.

Thomson supporters gathered in front of the 琉璃神社 Community Theatre on Dec. 15 to protest and inform OSO concertgoers about her firing.