American composer and Academy Award nominee Philip Glass has decided to cancel the world premiere of his Symphony No. 15, titled “Lincoln,” at the Trump Kennedy Center. He cites a direct “conflict” between his symphony’s message and the current leadership of the organization.
In a statement, Glass expressed, “Symphony No. 15 is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and today’s Kennedy Center values are in direct conflict with the symphony’s message.” So, he feels he must withdraw the premiere from the Kennedy Center as things stand.
This performance was initially set for June 12 and 13. The symphony, commissioned by the National Symphony Orchestra and the Kennedy Center back in 2022, had already faced multiple delays. It was later reinstated as part of the “250 Years of Us” program, which is intended to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary.
In a response to Glass’s cancellation, Roma Dharavi, Vice President of Public Affairs at the Trump Kennedy Center, suggested that political pressures influenced his decision. She remarked, “We have no room for politics in the arts, and those calling for a boycott based on politics are making the wrong decision. We have not canceled a single show. Left-wing activists are forcing artists to cancel, but the public wants artists to perform and create, not to cancel under pressure from political insiders who profit from creating division.”
Gene Davidson, the executive director of the National Symphony Orchestra, stated that the orchestra learned of Glass’s decision only after he announced it publicly. “We have great admiration for Philip Glass and were surprised to learn of his decision at the same time as the press,” he said.
Glass was previously honored at the Kennedy Center in 2018 during Trump’s first presidential term. His cancellation follows in a trend where several entertainers have pulled out of engagements at the center since Trump took over in February 2025.
For example, Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of “Hamilton,” announced in March that he would not be participating in a scheduled performance due to his opposition to President Trump, stating, “I have no intention of participating.” This pattern of cancellations has surged after the Kennedy Center’s board unanimously voted in December to rename the facility the Trump Kennedy Center.
Kennedy Center Director Richard Grenell dismissed the cancellations as a response to the center’s previous leadership, labeling the artists involved as those who were booked by “far-left” leaders. He said, “Their actions prove that the previous team was more concerned about booking far-left political activists rather than artists who perform for everyone, regardless of their political beliefs. Boycotting art to show support for it is a form of derangement syndrome. Art is for everyone, and the left is angry about it.”
