National Symphony Orchestra plays from six venues after Kennedy Center closure
Ticket revenue is projected to drop by half as the 95-year-old ensemble performs a reduced season in Washington, D.C. suburbs.
By Yasmin Nasser ·
The 95-year-old National Symphony Orchestra is playing a fragmented season across six different venues in the greater Washington, D.C. area after the loss of its permanent home. The ensemble, which has performed in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts since 1971, now operates as a musical nomad while the future of the arts complex remains uncertain.
The displacement followed the Kennedy Center's closure on Sept. 15. That decision came after months of declining ticket sales, public boycotts, and a federal court battle over the addition of President Donald Trump's name to the building's exterior. Trump assumed control of the center in early 2025, a move that involved the firing of board members and former president Deborah Rutter.
Music director Gianandrea Noseda, an Italian conductor who has led the orchestra for nine years, described the closure as a shock. He stated that the news arrived like a cold shower, forcing him to immediately ask what the ensemble would do without a home.
The orchestra faced a compressed timeline for its 2026-2027 season. Most symphonies announce their schedules in early spring, but the National Symphony Orchestra waited for budget approval from the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees. The new season was revealed in mid-August, only six weeks before the opening concert. That first performance took place just 11 days after the Kennedy Center locked its doors.
On Sept. 26, Noseda and the musicians traveled to the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, Md., to open the season. The program featured new music by Carlos Simon alongside works by Tchaikovsky and Respighi. Anne Midgette, a former classical music critic for The Washington Post, called the evening bittersweet, noting the challenge of a major city orchestra performing outside its traditional hall.
The change has created financial and operational strain. The Washington Post reported in August that ticket revenue is expected to fall by about half, while donations are down by a quarter. These drops are attributed in part to massive cuts in the Kennedy Center's development department. The orchestra is also operating without most of its former staff, including executive director Jean Davidson, who left her position in March, citing the turmoil at the center as the primary reason.
Rick Barber, the associate principal double bassist, joined the orchestra in 1995. He described the period following the closure as one of anxiety and uncertainty. Despite the political divisions he sees in the nation, Barber said he focuses solely on the music during performances. He does not believe the orchestra will fold and remains committed to the work.
Noseda extended his contract with the orchestra through 2031 after Rutter was fired, a decision he described as necessary for a leader to serve the music and the community. He has focused on reaching new audiences in different locations. The season will feature about half as many concerts as usual. The packed house in Bethesda roared in approval for the orchestra during the opening night, but critics say the season serves as a test for audience investment in the ensemble.
The National Symphony Orchestra is one of many ensembles facing financial hurdles across the United States. The Phoenix Symphony recently shut down, a trend Midgette attributes to the basic affordability of tickets and transportation for audiences. The orchestra's ability to survive this season depends on how many patrons continue to support it while it is displaced.
