Over 600 American classical musicians, including performers, educators, conductors, and administrators, have signed an open letter and petition to condemn threats to artistic free speech that have emerged during the early months of the second Donald Trump administration.
Notable signatories include violinists Margaret Batjer, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Jonathan Biss, and Midori, along with violists Misha Amory and Karen Dreyfus, cellists Natasha Brofsky and Ralph Kirshbaum, and many others. These musicians represent a wide range of renowned artists and educators in the classical music community.
The petition, titled Musicians for Democracy, opens with a statement of purpose: “Our passion and mission are making music and offering listeners the chance to deepen their understanding of the world. We are not politicians. We are citizens drawn to music for its ability to bridge cultures and connect people through our shared humanity.”
The letter goes on to address concerns about the impact of censorship, stating: “Each of us knows people across various sectors of American society who have lost jobs or faced significant insecurity due to censorship or retaliation in recent months.” By the time of publication, the petition had nearly 1,000 signatures.
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