According to reports the orchestra received an email with one sentence stating, “We are not able to offer you a contract at this time.” Founding artistic director Michael Roest told the SFGATE, “No explanation — certainly we can read between the lines of what’s going on.”

As a result, the orchestra will perform at the Strathmore Music Center on June 5.

This is the latest LGBT-related event that the administration led by Ric Grenell, a gay man himself, has canceled. The administration recently canceled the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and the children’s musical “Finn.”

The Trump administration has taken aim at the LGBT community throughout the first few weeks of the administration and has vowed to ban Pride flags from flying over U.S. embassies and federal buildings. He has also signed executive orders against the Trans community and has vowed to get rid of “Drag” shows at the Kennedy Center.

Instead, the administration wants to celebrate Christ with a “big, huge celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas,” according to Grenell at CPAC. He also noted that he wants shows that will sell tickets and noted that the Gay Men’s Chorus concert was selling really badly, even though the performance was not until May 21, 2025. Moreover, per Steve Bannon, there will be a concert featuring the J6 Prison Choir, paying homage the men and women who raided the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 in violation of the U.S. Constitution in hopes of hanging then-vice president Mike Pence and maintaining president Donald J. Trump in office, despite his loss in a free and fair election in November 2020 to eventual President Joe Biden.

Artists have been incredibly critical of the new administration with Leonard Slatkin, former Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra, stating via the Washington Post, “If all artists withheld their performance, the [Kennedy] Center and other related organizations would close permanently. That is not good for anyone. But, I understand what you are saying. It will be a difficult decision for anyone. I would use the performance opportunity to address the issue, perhaps from the stage directly.”

Meanwhile, Renée Fleming resigned from her position noting, “I’ve treasured the bi-partisan support for this institution as a beacon of America at our best. I hope the Kennedy Center continues to flourish and serve the passionate and diverse audience in our nation’s capital and across the country. Renée.”

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