The San Angelo Symphony announced Wednesday it has canceled the 2021 live, in-person July Pops concert, normally held at the Bill Aylor Sr. Memorial RiverStage.
In a release, the Symphony said the late timing of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent COVID-19 guidelines and the loss of critical sponsorship funding, caused the cancelation.
The 2021 concert will be broadcast on the City of San Angelo’s public channel at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 3. The recently-recorded patriotic performance will feature celebratory music, photos of past special July Pops moments and special guest artist, Haley Sicking.
“Like so many other local non-profit organizations, the continued impact of COVID-19 has not been lost on our organization and while the Symphony has successfully worked over the past 14 months to adapt and provide virtual access to live music and music education in addition to our regular digital 2020-2021 concert season, the unpredictable nature of the pandemic has created a level of uncertainty that will follow us into the 2021-2022 concert season,” Symphony executive director Courtney Mahaffey said in the release.
“We are saddened to postpone a live in-person show, but we are also grateful that our Maestro and musicians are still able to provide this celebratory performance to the community through the broadcast. The Symphony Board of Directors and staff have already begun planning for the 2022 July 3rd Pops Concert and Fireworks Extravaganza and look forward to welcoming everyone back to the River Stage next year.”
“The performing arts are an important thread in the fabric that make San Angelo a unique community and we are proud that our artistic and educational efforts help to enhance the quality of life for so many. We are looking forward to continuing the music in the concert hall and welcoming our patrons back to the Murphey for live and in-person performances during the 2021-2022 season,” Maestro Hector Guzman said.
Contact the San Angelo Symphony’s office at 325-658-5877 with any questions.
