Ben Folds warns that National Symphony Orchestra ‘may not survive’ amid Kennedy Center chaos

Pop Culture NewsBen Folds warns that National Symphony Orchestra ‘may not survive’ amid Kennedy Center chaosThe alt rock figure called on Congress to “demand safeguards against this ever happening again to the Kennedy Center or any other federal arts institutions.” Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Ben Folds in New York City in 2025..Slaven Vlasic / Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 3, 2026, 12:14 PM EDTBy David K. LiThe National Symphony Orchestra “is in real trouble” and “may not survive” ongoing Kennedy Center chaos, Grammy-nominated alt rock pianist Ben Folds warned on Tuesday.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Folds, who resigned last year from his role as artistic advisor to the NSO, urged orchestra fans to fight back with their voices.“Our National Symphony Orchestra is in real trouble — it may not survive,” Folds told fans via an open letter posted to social media on Tuesday. “There’s no plan or solution in sight to save the organization.”Folds asked fans of orchestral music to express their support for the NSO on public forums and to call members of Congress to “demand safeguards against this ever happening again to the Kennedy Center or any other federal arts institutions.” “The public can turn the tide with overwhelming support,” he added. The “Brick” and “Underground” artist worries that the orchestra is on the verge of homelessness.The orchestra has handful of dates set for June, but nothing beyond.“Currently there’s no announcement for programming for the NSO’s upcoming season,” he wrote.“All other orchestras have announced theirs by now because planning is always about 18 months ahead of performances. The NSO doesn’t even know if it has a home, given the previously announced two-year close of the Kennedy Center.”The Kennedy Center has been rocked by ongoing opposition from the arts community over President Donald Trump’s bid to have the famed concert hall...