Eastern Music Festival Cancels Summer Season Amid Coronavirus Concerns

Greensboro's Eastern Music Festival is canceling its season due to coronavirus concerns. The announcement follows similar recent decisions by organizers at the Brevard Music Festival and An Appalachian Summer Festival in Boone. 

The five-week classical music festival and summer education program on Guilford College's campus attracts distinguished faculty, renowned visiting artists, and 265 young musicians from around the world. But this June, EMF will be quiet. Among those directly impacted will be approximately 130 seasonal employees, a hundred faculty and staff, and roughly a dozen visiting soloists.

Media and Communications Director Kelly Swindell says in the short term, with the loss of tuition and ticket revenue, things will be tight.

"But the organization is on solid footing," says Swindell. "And we're looking at how we can kind of consolidate things so we can come back and maintain our mission. Right now we're okay, but there will be fundraising and appeals, and the need to support the mission of the organization for the long term stability."

For now, Swindell and her colleagues are considering options like online performances and lessons to stay connected. Archival concerts will be broadcast locally and plans for EMF 2021 are already underway.