NSO Season Cut in Half as Orchestra Plays Outside Kennedy Center

The National Symphony Orchestra is playing only half of its usual concerts this season. The 95-year-old group, which has been based in Washington, D.C., for decades, is now performing in six different locations across the region because its home venue is closed.

The disruption began in early 2025 when President Trump took control of the Kennedy Center. He fired the board of trustees and the center's president, Deborah Rutter. This move followed months of declining ticket sales and legal disputes over adding Trump's name to the building's exterior.

On Sept. 15, the Kennedy Center closed its doors. The orchestra had just revealed its new season in mid-August, a delay caused by waiting for budget approval from the center's board. The opening concert took place just 11 days after the closure.

Music director Gianandrea Noseda called the closure a cold shower. He noted that the news was unexpected and that the group had to quickly find alternative venues. The orchestra's first show of the season happened on Sept. 26 at the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, Md.

Financial pressures are mounting. According to a report from The Washington Post in August, ticket revenue is expected to fall by about half. Donations are also down by a quarter, partly due to cuts in the Kennedy Center's development department. The orchestra also lost most of its former staff, including executive director Jean Davidson, who left in March.

Anne Midgette, a former classical music critic for The Washington Post, described the situation as a mess. She said she was concerned the orchestra might not have a season at all. She noted that the orchestra is so tied to the Kennedy Center that its survival seemed uncertain.

Musicians are coping with anxiety but remain focused on their work. Rick Barber, the associate principal double bassist, said he was stunned by the closure. He added that while political divisions are visible in daily life, they disappear when he is playing music.

Noseda extended his contract with the orchestra through 2031. He said leaving would have been too easy and perhaps cowardly. He believes the music can still bring people together, even as the group navigates a reduced schedule and uncertain future.