The musicians of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra are experiencing a challenging period. According to David Jones, the principal clarinetist for the orchestra, recent events have left the orchestra facing uncertainty. It felt like we were just punched in the chest,
he expressed.
David Jones, serving as the principal clarinetist since 1998, has performed under five U.S. presidents. However, a series of cancellations has prevented him from playing at the Kennedy Center since February.
The Kennedy Center resembles a closed school on summer break. Upon his recent visit, Jones noticed new metal detectors in the lobby, but there were few people for security to check. He visited to collect new sheet music, but the building’s librarian was absent, as were many familiar faces. Outside, promotional banners usually advertising new shows had been removed.
The orchestra plays a vital role in supporting performances for the Washington National Opera and various ballet and theater productions at the Kennedy Center. This year, however, Jones and his colleagues have seldom entered the building.
President Trump’s impact on the center’s traditionally nonpartisan nature has deterred various groups from performing in Washington. The team behind Hamilton was among the first to object, and following Trump’s name being added to the facade, other groups like the San Francisco and New York City ballets followed their lead. Even the Washington National Opera opted to leave its long-standing venue.
The wave of cancellations has significantly affected the orchestra’s 61 musicians, who depend on performance-based pay. The last time the entire ensemble performed together at the Kennedy Center was with the American Ballet Theater in February. The outlook appears even more daunting as the Kennedy Center plans to close in July for extensive renovations expected to last two years.
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