Composer Philip Glass has joined the ongoing artist protest against the name change of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
Glass withdrew the world premiere of his new symphony, citing political concerns about the institution’s current leadership: the Trump administration.
Glass announced the decision on Tuesday, saying he would no longer allow the Kennedy Center to host the first performance of his Symphony No. 15, titled Lincoln.
Highlights
- Philip Glass withdrew the world premiere of his Symphony No. 15 from the Kennedy Center over conflicts with its current leadership.
- The Kennedy Center was renamed Trump Kennedy Center after Trump appointed a new board and leadership in early 2025.
- Multiple artists, including Bela Fleck and Chuck Redd, canceled performances citing political concerns at the center.
- Glass’s Symphony No. 15 'Lincoln' is inspired by Abraham Lincoln’s 1838 Lyceum Address warning about lawlessness.
The symphony was scheduled to premiere on June 12 and 13.
Composer Philip Glass withdrew his symphony from the Kennedy Center
Image credits: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images
The 88-year-old composer said in a statement, “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,” he added.
Glass is one of the most influential American composers of the past century. The Kennedy Center honored him in 2018 as a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors.
His decision to withdraw marks one of the most prominent artistic protests since President Donald Trump reshaped the institution following his return to office in early 2025.
After beginning his second term, Trump replaced the Kennedy Center’s leadership with members from his administration and appointed a new board of trustees. In December, the board voted “unanimously” to rebrand the venue as the Trump Kennedy Center.
The claim was challenged by Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center board, who said her microphone was “muted” when she tried to speak out against the name change.
The rebranding decision has triggered a wave of artist withdrawals. Several musicians and performers cited concerns that the center has become politically charged.
Jazz musician Chuck Redd canceled his annual Christmas Eve performance, while jazz group The Cookers, dance company Doug Varone and Dancers, and singer Kristy Lee also pulled their scheduled events from the center.
Image credits: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Earlier this month, 18-time Grammy-winning banjo player Bela Fleck announced he would cancel three upcoming performances with the National Symphony Orchestra.
He said, “Performing there has become charged and political, at an institution where the focus should be on the music.”
Other canceled appearances include an opera gala hosted by Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz and performances by variety show Asian AF and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Sonia De Los Santos.
Glass’s symphony draws inspiration from Abraham Lincoln’s 1838 Lyceum Address, in which Lincoln warned about mob violence and the erosion of respect for the rule of law.
The Kennedy Center responded to recent cancellations by saying it does not support political boycotts.
Glass is among several artists who have canceled their shows at the arts center
Image credits: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images
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 canceled 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,” Daravi added.
Jean Davidson, Executive Director of the National Symphony Orchestra, also reacted to Glass’ withdrawal, saying, “We have great admiration for Philip Glass and were surprised to learn about his decision at the same time as the press.”
Richard Grenell, the president of the Kennedy Center, has also said artists canceling shows were “far-left political activists” and that they had been booked by previous leadership. “Boycotting the arts to show you support the arts is a form of derangement syndrome,” he said in a statement.
Glass’s withdrawal comes amid broader controversy surrounding the Kennedy Center. The Washington National Opera recently ended its long relationship with the venue.
Image credits: Erica Denhoff/Getty Images
Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center has led to a decline in revenue. Former Kennedy Center dance director Jane Raleigh told The Athletic that subscription rates were “down about 50% over where they should have been.”
Since Trump was elected chair of the board, subscription sales at the venue dropped 36% compared to last year, translating to a $1.6 million decline, The Washington Post reported earlier, and The New York Times reported that single-ticket sales fell by 50% in April and May 2025.
Trump attempted to wash his hands of the “massive deficit” the center has seeen. “People don’t realize that The Trump Kennedy Center suffered massive deficits for many years and, like everything else, I merely came in to save it and, if possible, make it far better than ever before!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
According to a Washington Post analysis of October ticketing data, sales at the Kennedy Center’s three largest venues—the Opera House, Concert Hall, and Eisenhower Theater—were the lowest in three years.