Philip Glass Cancels World Premiere Symphony at the Kennedy Center
By Francisco SalazarPhilip Glass has pulled his new symphony from the National Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming June concerts at the Kennedy Center.
The famed composer released a letter stating, “After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my Symphony No. 15 “Lincoln” from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Symphony No. 15 is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and the values of the Kennedy Center today are in direct conflict with the message of the Symphony. Therefore, I feel an obligation to withdraw this Symphony premiere from the Kennedy Center under its current leadership.”
The symphony was set to world premiere on June 12 and 13 and was set to be conducted by Karen Kamensek and performed by Zachary James.
Glass was awarded the 2015 National Medal of Arts by President Obama and was a Kennedy Center Honors award recipient in 2018. He is also an Oscar nominated composer and has composed such operas as “Akhnaten” and “Satyagraha.”
He is the latest artist to cancel a concert with the National Symphony Orchestra following Bela Fleck and Renée Fleming.
Update: In response to the cancelation Roma Daravi, Vice President of Public Relations at the Trump Kennedy Center said, “We have no place for politics in the arts, and those calling for boycotts based on politics are making the wrong decision. We have not cancelled a single show. Leftist activists are pushing artists to cancel but the public wants artists to perform and create—not cancel under pressure from political insiders that benefit from creating division.”
Meanwhile, Jean Davidson, Executive Director of the National Symphony Orchestra added, “We have great admiration for Philip Glass and were surprised to learn about his decision at the same time as the press.”
— Philip Glass (@philipglass) January 27, 2026
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