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Béla Fleck has canceled his appearance at the Kennedy Center after Donald Trump‘s name was attached to the institution following a board vote, which the former Apprentice show host controls.
In a statement on social media, the Grammy-winning musician explained why he withdrew from appearing at the venue.
“I have withdrawn from my upcoming performance with the NSO at The Kennedy Center. Performing there has become charged and political, at an institution where the focus should be on the music,” Fleck said in a statement.
Fleck continued, “I look forward to playing with the NSO another time in the future when we can together share and celebrate art.”
The banjo artist is not the first artist to opt out of performing at the Kennedy Center following the name change. Stephen Schwartz recently told Deadline he would not be part of an event planned for later this year.
“I was part of the original event that opened the Kennedy Center, the Bernstein Mass. The Kennedy Center was founded to be an apolitical home for artists of all nationalities and all ideologies,” read the statement. “It is no longer apolitical, and appearing there has become an ideological statement. As long as that remains the case, I will not appear there.”
Scheduled to perform on New Year’s Eve, jazz ensemble The Cookers canceled their appearance saying in a statement, “Jazz was born from struggle and from a relentless insistence on freedom: freedom of thought, of expression, and of the full human voice. Some of us have been making this music for many decades, and that history still shapes us. We are not turning away from our audience, and do want to make sure that when we do return to the bandstand, the room is able to celebrate the full presence of the music and everyone in it. Our hope is that this moment will leave space for reflection, not resentment.”
Other artists who have canceled appearances include Billy Hart, Doug Varone and Dancers, Chuck Redd, Kristy Lee, and more.
I have withdrawn from my upcoming performance with the NSO at The Kennedy Center. Performing there has become charged and political, at an institution where the focus should be on the music.
I look forward to playing with the NSO another time in the future when we can together… pic.twitter.com/dnzoAZzzAF
English (US) ·