From the time that COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) first impacted the performing arts several weeks ago, The Hub has been tracking postponements and cancellations by U.S. and international orchestras, performing arts centers, and conservatories.
The League of American Orchestras is posting information about COVID-19 preparedness as a service to the orchestra field. Find resources, guidance, and updates on the League’s coronavirus preparedness site.
To help limit the spread of the virus, the following arts organizations have recently announced postponements, cancellations, and other shifts in concerts and related activities. The organizations are offering a variety of options to exchange, donate, refund, or adjust previously purchased tickets. Please note that orchestras and performing arts centers are revising their plans as the situation evolves; refer to their individual websites and social media for the most up-to-date information. (This list is not complete, and we will continue to post announcements as they arrive.)
The Alabama Symphony Orchestra (Birmingham, Alabama) has cancelled concerts on April 3, 4, 24, and 25 at the University of Alabama’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. The orchestra has postponed performances scheduled for April 18 and 19 at Sanford University Wright Center.
Carnegie Hall (New York City) has announced that all events and programming have been cancelled through May 10. Carnegie Hall had previously stated that it was closing through the end of March. In addition to concerts and presentations at Carnegie Hall, all live events and in-person programming presented by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute—whether at Carnegie Hall or elsewhere—is suspended through May 10. All free Carnegie Hall Citywide performances in venues throughout New York City through May 10 are postponed.
The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) has cancelled its performances on April 5, 6, and 7.
The Charlotte Symphony (North Carolina), in coordination with the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, will postpone all performances through April 12. The orchestra had previously announced the postponement of its March 13 and 14 performances.
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (Michigan) has cancelled or postponed all concerts and events through April 5. The orchestra had previously cancelled its March 13-15 concerts. In addition, all Civic Youth Ensemble and Detroit Community Ensembles rehearsals and performances are suspended through April 5. The orchestra is making streams and videos of performances available online.
The Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra (Honolulu, Hawaii) has announced the cancellation of its concerts on March 21 and 22, due to the closure of the Blaisdell Center, its primary concert venue.
The Hawaii Youth Symphony Orchestra has cancelled its April 5 concert and two educational concerts on April 6. The youth orchestra may cancel all concerts through the rest of the season, due to guidance that gatherings of large groups should be discontinued.
The Houston Symphony (Texas) has announced that it is cancelling all concerts and community activities through May 10, following recommendations that restrict large gatherings.
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (Indiana) has cancelled all concerts through March 31. The orchestra’s events at venues other than the Hilbert Circle Theater, including Metropolitan Youth Orchestra rehearsals and performances, are also cancelled through March 31.
The Kansas City Symphony (Missouri) has cancelled or postponed all concerts and events through May 10 due to mandates regarding COVID-19. The orchestra states that it is working on plans to launch digital initiatives to share its music with the community.
The Louisville Orchestra (Kentucky) has cancelled all concerts through April 17. The Louisville Orchestra had previously cancelled its March 13 and 14 performances. The orchestra states that it hopes to present the final two concerts of the current season on April 24 and 25.
The Mid-Texas Symphony (Seguin, Texas) has cancelled its April 5 concert, with no plans to reschedule.
The Nashville Symphony (Tennessee) has suspended all performances at Schermerhorn Symphony Center through March 31. The orchestra had previously cancelled concerts on March 12, 13, and 14. In addition, outside presentations at Schermerhorn Symphony Center in April and May have been postponed.
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (Wellington, New Zealand) has suspended all concert and related activities until May, following the government’s directive banning public events of more than 500 people. The concerts were to have been held in Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, and Napier.
ProMusica Arizona (Phoenix, Arizona), which includes a community chorus and orchestra, has postponed its April 4 and 5 concerts. The Women in Song free performance on March 28 at the Peoria Main Library has been cancelled.
The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (Philadelphia) has suspended all rehearsals and concerts through April 2. All Tune Up Philly classes taking place in schools have been cancelled and will resume when schools are back in operation. The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra’s gala on March 27 will be postponed, and the 2020 tour to Greece has been cancelled.
The San Francisco Symphony (California) has announced the cancellation or postponement of all concerts at Davies Symphony Hall through April 30. The orchestra had previously announced the cancellation of its tour to New York and Europe and concerts earlier in March.
The Shreveport Symphony Orchestra (Louisiana) has cancelled its March 28 and 29 concerts. The Shreveport Symphony had previously cancelled its March 12 gala event.
The Southwest Florida Symphony (Fort Myers, Florida) has cancelled its March 21 concert at Mann Performing Arts Hall. The orchestra states that its April 1 and 2 concerts at two other venues are currently slated to proceed as scheduled, but that its April 3 concert at Shell Point has been cancelled.
The Tucson Symphony Orchestra (Arizona) has suspended performances through March 31, following the mayor’s recommendation that events with attendance of least 50 individuals be postponed.
The Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association (Alexandria, Virginia) has cancelled the March 29 and April 5 concerts by the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic as well as the Washington Metropolitan Youth Orchestra concert on March 22.
The Wichita Symphony Orchestra (Kansas) has postponed its March 14 and 15 performances due to a ban on events with more than 250 people by the Sedgwick County Health Department.
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (Manitoba, Canada) has cancelled all performances through March 31.
The Winston-Salem Symphony (North Carolina) has postponed its April 5 and 7 concerts until July 18 and 19. A Music Lovers Luncheon scheduled for April 3 has been cancelled. Concerts in April are presently expected to proceed as planned, but the symphony will continue to monitor regional circumstances.
The Yakima Symphony Orchestra (Washington) has cancelled its March 21 concert. The orchestra has cancelled subscriber-appreciation events on March 20 and 21, and its annual fundraising event on March 27 has been postponed to June 19.
