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By Gabe Whisnant
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Prize-winning composer Philip Glass has withdrawn the world premiere of a new symphony from the Trump Kennedy Center, becoming the latest prominent artist to cancel a scheduled appearance at the Washington venue amid controversy surrounding its leadership under President Donald Trump.
Glass said Tuesday that he is canceling the premiere of his Symphony No. 15, “Lincoln,” which was scheduled to be performed June 12 and June 13 and conducted by Grammy-winning conductor Karen Kamensek. The symphony is a musical portrait of President Abraham Lincoln.
“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,” Glass said in a statement released by his publicist. “Therefore, I feel an obligation to withdraw this Symphony premiere from the Kennedy Center under its current leadership.”
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Glass, who turns 89 this week, was named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2018.
Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations at the Trump Kennedy Center, told Newsweek in a statement, “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 cancelled 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.”
The cancellation comes amid growing backlash from artists following Trump’s removal of the center’s previous leadership and the installation of a new board of trustees aligned with the administration. Trump and his allies have described the changes as part of a broader campaign against what they characterize as “woke” culture in the arts.
Jean Davidson, Executive Director of the National Symphony Orchestra, said in a statement shared with Newsweek, “We have great admiration for Philip Glass and were surprised to learn about his decision at the same time as the press.”
The president’s name already appears on signage outside the Kennedy Center alongside that of President John F. Kennedy, despite any official renaming requiring an act of Congress. Members of the Trump-appointed board have said they intend to rebrand the venue as the Trump Kennedy Center.
Glass is the latest in a series of high-profile musicians and performers who have withdrawn from planned appearances at the center over the past year. Some artists have cited artistic differences, while others have pointed directly to the leadership changes and the political direction of the institution.
The Kennedy Center has long been regarded as a nonpartisan national cultural institution, hosting performances across music, theater and dance. The recent cancellations have raised concerns within the arts community about political influence over programming and governance.
Artists and Groups Who Have Withdrawn From the Kennedy Center
- Philip Glass — Withdrew the world premiere of Symphony No. 15: “Lincoln.”
- Renée Fleming — Canceled scheduled performances and stepped away from her advisory role.
- Lin-Manuel Miranda — Canceled a planned engagement of Hamilton at the Kennedy Center.
- Béla Fleck — Canceled multiple concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra.
- Issa Rae — Canceled a scheduled appearance at the venue.
- Washington National Opera — Ended its long-standing residency at the Kennedy Center.
- Vocal Arts DC — Withdrew planned vocal recitals.
- Brentano Quartet (with Hsin-Yun Huang) — Canceled a scheduled concert.
- Seattle Children’s Theatre — Withdrew a planned production.
- Martha Graham Dance Company — Canceled a future engagement.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
Updates: 1/27/26, 2:44 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
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