Composer Philip Glass Cancels Kennedy Center Symphony Premiere Over Trump Leadership

The acclaimed musician withdraws his new work in protest of the venue's direction under the former president's influence.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 11:55am

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Renowned composer Philip Glass has canceled the world premiere of his new symphony about Abraham Lincoln at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Glass cited the venue's current leadership and values as being in "direct conflict" with the message of his Symphony No. 15, "Lincoln." The decision comes amid a wave of artist withdrawals from the Kennedy Center since President Donald Trump appointed new leadership and pushed to rename the venue after himself.

Why it matters

The Kennedy Center has long been considered a bastion of the arts and culture in the nation's capital, but its direction has become increasingly politicized under Trump's influence. Glass' high-profile cancellation highlights the growing tensions between artistic expression and partisan politics at major cultural institutions.

The details

Glass' new symphony, "Lincoln," was scheduled to have its world premiere on June 12 and 13, conducted by Grammy winner Karen Kamensek. However, the composer said the "values of the Kennedy Center today are in direct conflict with the message of the Symphony" and felt compelled to withdraw the work. The Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

  • The world premiere of Philip Glass' Symphony No. 15, "Lincoln," was scheduled for June 12 and 13, 2026.
  • Glass, who turns 89 on January 31, 2026, was a Kennedy Center honoree in 2018.

The players

Philip Glass

A prize-winning composer known for his minimalist style, Glass was set to premiere his new symphony about Abraham Lincoln at the Kennedy Center before withdrawing it in protest.

Karen Kamensek

A Grammy-winning conductor who was slated to lead the performances of Glass' Symphony No. 15 at the Kennedy Center.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president whose leadership and influence over the Kennedy Center's direction led Glass to cancel the premiere of his new work.

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What they’re saying

“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. Therefore, I feel an obligation to withdraw this Symphony premiere from the Kennedy Center under its current leadership.”

— Philip Glass, Composer

What’s next

The Kennedy Center has not yet announced how it will respond to Glass' withdrawal of the symphony premiere. It remains to be seen if the venue will find another composer or work to fill the scheduled performances.

The takeaway

Glass' decision to cancel the premiere of his Lincoln symphony at the Kennedy Center underscores the growing divide between artistic expression and partisan politics at major cultural institutions. This highlights the challenges facing arts organizations in navigating an increasingly polarized landscape.