Sad news: The Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, which presents a Summermusik festival in August, has canceled its 2020 festival due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Chamber Orchestra, which is led by music director Eckart Preu, plans to return in 2021.
The CCO made this announcement in an email blast today:
“In the past few weeks the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, like so many of our arts peers around the country, has grappled with the uncertainty and disruption surrounding COVID-19, as well as the difficult financial situation confronting many of our donors. After much deliberation and soul-searching, the CCO Board and staff have made the heartbreaking decision to postpone our Summermusik 2020 festival until 2021.
“The health and safety of our patrons, musicians, staff, Board and volunteers is of paramount importance to us. We pride ourselves in immersive, engaging and intimate performances that connect all of you – the musically curious – in our community. During this time of social distancing, we have all been forced to find new ways to move forward until the picture is more clear and we begin to see an end to the social distancing that makes a concert experience impossible. In the meantime, we are exploring alternative ways to bring the sounds of the CCO to our audience and to deliver our education and community engagement programs to our many community partners.”
Like every arts organization in the nation, the organization will lose income because of the pandemic. It is asking for donations to its operating fund, and for people to purchase gift vouchers that will help “secure the CCO’s future and allow you to select tickets to the future events of your choice.”
The orchestra has set up a web page with more ways you can offer support, with this message:
“We know this news may come as a shock. It certainly has to all of us on the CCO staff and Board. But we are confident we are making the best decisions so that the organization can start out 2021 on the best possible financial footing. We look forward to next season when we can once again bring the sound of summer to our community.”
janellesnotes 