Britt Festival Orchestra cancels season due to COVID-19 – Medford News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2020-04-17

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Britt Festival Orchestra cancels season due to COVID-19 By Mail Tribune staff Apr 17, 2020 09:11 AM A A The Britt Festival Orchestra is the latest COVID-19 casualty. The orchestra's 2020 season has been canceled because of the pandemic, according to a Friday Britt news release. The Britt Festival Orchestra season was scheduled to run from July 31 to Aug. 16. "With the unpredictable nature of the current COVID-19 pandemic, Britt’s staff, board and musicians all agreed that it was not worth the risk of causing an outbreak in the Southern Oregon community. Given the demographics of both our audience and host families, we also agreed the risk was too high for an at-risk community to contract the virus," the release said. Britt staff will explore alternatives, including virtual concerts and "smaller, more intimate performances by members of our BFO as conditions permit." The festival continues to work out details for the 2021 season and intends to invite back all artists booked for the 2020 season. Anyone who had already purchased tickets will have their account credited by default, but ticketholders can request either a refund or a tax-deductible donation. Refund requests must be made by June 12, the release said. Call 541-773-6077 or email [email protected] for more information. Teddy Abrams leads the 2019 Britt Orchestra. Photo by O'Neil Arnold