(Credit: Cleveland Orchestra official website)

The Cleveland Orchestra announced that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic concerns, the orchestra will not be able to have audiences in the Severance Hall from March to June 2021, as originally planned.

“Performing live concerts for our community, has been our goal throughout this unusual season, but only when we could guarantee the health and safety of everyone involved — onstage and off,” said André Gremillet, President & CEO of the Cleveland Orchestra. “Until recently, we had been optimistic that we could welcome audiences back to live performances at the beginning of March. However, with uncertainty around case numbers, the introduction of new virus variants, and extended vaccination schedules, we have concluded that we must make different plans for the months ahead.

“Therefore, after much thought and consideration, and through ongoing consultation with our partners at the Cleveland Clinic, we have come to the conclusion that, with the continuing Covid-19 pandemic, we will not be able to go forward with ticketed live audiences for scheduled concerts this March through June 2021,” concluded the President of the Cleveland Orchestra.

United States is undergoing an ongoing COVID-19 epidemiological crisis, with 114,234 new cases on Feb. 2, 2021.