On Thursday, June 5, 2025, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra (MSO) honored two major cultural leaders with its 2025 Legacy Awards at a sold-out Gala Dinner in Easton, Maryland. Now in its 27th year, the MSO presented its National Legacy Award to Deborah Rutter, former President of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and its annual Legacy Award to Maestro {…}
Despite his Kennedy Center takeover, President Donald J. Trump has failed to make the Kennedy Center Great Again. Following a report by the Washington Post that was then corroborated by the New York Times, the performing arts have seen a drastic decline in ticket sales and subscription revenue. The New York Times reported that, according to data compiled by anonymous {…}
The Kennedy Center’s vice President, Floyd Brown, has been fired due to past anti-gay comments. Brown, whom President Trump hired, was fired hours after CNN’s Andrew Kaczynski uncovered past anti-LGBT comments. Brown called homosexuality a “punishment” upon America and said same-sex marriage is “godless” and a “hoax.” He also promoted conspiracies about former President Barack Obama’s birth and religion. Brown responded {…}
Former president of the Kennedy Center, Deborah Rutter, has released a statement responding to false allegations regarding the management of the center. Rutter said, “I am deeply troubled by the false allegations regarding the management of the Kennedy Center being made by people without the context or expertise to understand the complexities involved in nonprofit and arts management, which has {…}
A number of the world’s major classical artists have penned a petition to underscore the importance of free expression and artistic freedom in society. “We, the undersigned, are American classical musicians. Our passion and mission are making music and, in doing so, offering listeners the possibility of deepening their experience and understanding of the world. We are not politicians: We {…}
As President Trump prepares for his fundraiser at the Kennedy Center, which includes a performance of “Les Misérables” with a price tag of up to $2 million, republican lawmakers have proposed allocating $257 million for the Kennedy Center. The budget would be for capital repairs and other expenses and would be part of the proposed reconciliation bill. According to the {…}
The Kennedy Center has canceled a week’s worth of events celebrating Pride Month. According to the Associated Press, the events planned for June 5–8, 2025, were quietly canceled or moved to other venues. As a result, Washington’s Capital Pride Alliance has disassociated itself from the Kennedy Center. In a statement to the AP, June Crenshaw, deputy director of the alliance, {…}
The Kennedy Center has announced that the exterior lighting will permanently feature the colors red, white, and blue. In a statement, Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations at the Kennedy Center, said, “The lights are a beautiful reminder of the American spirit. The red, white, and blue colors are a powerful symbol of unity and our nation’s commitment to {…}
A petition has been created in response to President Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center. The petition was created between MoveOn petition and Qommittee in order to stop funding censorship and support diverse artists. The petition has already racked up 40,000 signatures as of this writing. The petition reads, “The response to President Trump’s unprecedented Kennedy Center takeover, censorship and {…}
Following the upheaval at the Kennedy Center, the Washington National Opera will move forward with the highly-anticipated “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs,” created by Kennedy Center’s first Composer-in-Residence Mason Bates and librettist Mark Campbell. The Grammy Award®-winning opera follows the life of Steve Jobs and his quest for inner peace. The production will feature baritones John Moore and Jonathan Patton {…}
Interim President of the Kennedy Center Ric Grenell is calling for “tolerance” at the Kennedy Center after JD Vance got booed for his attendance at the National Symphony Orchestra. Grenell took to social media and said, “This video should challenge us all to commit to making the Kennedy Center a place where everyone is welcomed. It troubles me to see {…}