“In the midst of the public outcry over the death of George Floyd, killed by a Minneapolis police officer in front of horrified witnesses and three other officers, two music-industry leaders called for a day of silence on Tuesday, June 2,” writes Michael Zwiebach in Tuesday’s (6/2) San Francisco Classical Voice. “Brianna Agyemang and Jamila Thomas floated the call for #TheShowMustBePaused in response to other Blackout Tuesday vigils…. Many [classical organizations] across the nation were expressing sorrow and commiseration. Perhaps most striking was the statement from the League of American Orchestras…. All over the classical community … there is much more work to be done to confront the historical legacy that leads to and perpetuates these tragedies, and the League’s statement was a heartening promise to lead by example. Meanwhile, Michael Morgan, music director of the Oakland Symphony, said, ‘The Oakland Symphony has always supported the social justice movement. And we continue to in these times.’ … I saw similar statements from … the New York Philharmonic, Early Music America, Young People’s Chorus of New York, and … the Sphinx Organization.” Among others releasing statements are the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Seattle Opera.
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