Michael Tilson Thomas
Photo: SFS
The San Francisco Symphony and Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas will replace the cancelled concerts in North Carolina with a Symphony Pride on 4 April at Davies Hall in San Francisco. The cancellation were a protest against homophobic law in North Carolina, and subsequently the planned gala will be a benefit concert with the money it raises going to non-profit organizations providing help for LGBT people. The program will comprise works by lesbian and gay composers including Lou Harrison, Henry Cowell, Meredith Monk, John Cage and Aaron Copland.
“This special evening honors the essential contributions that LGBTQ composers have made in shaping the American musical sound,” Michael Tilson Thomas says in a press release. ”One of music’s greatest roles is to bring people together. I am proud to join with the musicians of the San Francisco Symphony and my dear friend Audra McDonald in presenting an evening that celebrates and honors the spirit of our community. This concert also offers me the opportunity to express my appreciation for the generous welcome extended to me and my husband Joshua Robison since our arrival here over 20 years ago.”
“We commend Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony for taking a stand in support of the LQBTQ community,” said Mayor Edwin M. Lee. “This great event reaffirms San Francisco’s commitment to equality for all, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Now, more than ever, San Francisco must exemplify what it means to be an inclusive city, devoted to protecting and advancing the rights of all who live here.”
