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Phoenix Symphony’s final scheduled concert is Nov. 1 as 66 musicians face layoffs
The Phoenix Symphony plans to suspend performances after its Nov. 1 concert, with 66 musicians expected to lose their jobs the next day. Musicians say the shutdown would also end performances for students, hospice patients and unhoused residents.
The Phoenix Symphony is set to suspend performances after its Nov. 1 concert, leaving 66 musicians facing layoffs on Nov. 2 as the organization grapples with rising costs and donations that have fallen short.
The suspension puts musicians’ livelihoods and community programs at risk. Principal oboist Jonathan Gentry said he and his fiancée are among five couples in the orchestra who stand to lose their entire household income.
“It’s brutal,” Gentry said, describing the uncertainty over how they will manage bills and other expenses. He said playing with the orchestra had fulfilled a childhood dream and added, “This city deserves a great orchestra.”
Principal flutist Viviana Cumplido Wilson said the symphony performs for students in classrooms, visits people in hospice care and plays for unhoused people. Those programs, she said, offer moments of peace, beauty and dignity.
The orchestra has described the move as a suspension rather than a cancellation. Musicians are hoping community donations can help sustain the ensemble beyond the final scheduled performance. The financial pressures facing Phoenix are part of a wider strain on orchestras, which are contending with rising expenses and unpredictable funding.