Béla Fleck Cancels Concerts at Kennedy Center

Béla Fleck is the latest artist to cancel an upcoming appearance at the Kennedy Center. The 17-time Grammy-winning banjoist was set to join the National Symphony Orchestra for three concerts in mid-February.

“I have withdrawn from my upcoming performance with the NSO at The Kennedy Center,” Fleck wrote in a social media post on Tuesday. “Performing there has become charged and political, at an institution where the focus should be on the music.”

“I look forward to playing with the NSO another time in the future when we can together share and celebrate art,” Fleck added.

Fleck joins a growing list of artists who have canceled scheduled Kennedy Center appearances following Donald Trump’s takeover. Others who’ve pulled out include Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz, Rhiannon Giddens, The Cookers, and a touring production of Hamilton.