The Juneau Symphony rehearses for a concert in October of 2022. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

The Juneau Symphony rehearses for a concert in October of 2022. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau Symphony cancels concerts for first time in known memory due to weather

Snow storm made rehearsing, access to instruments, arrival of guest artists doubtful, director says.

The Juneau Symphony has canceled a concert due to weather for the first time in known memory, as record snowfall this week caused too many complications to perform a “Brahms Begins” show Saturday and Sunday at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, according to Charlotte Truitt, the symphony’s executive director.

“Anytime folks are coming to a concert our preparation begins long before the concert weekend,” she said in an interview Wednesday. “And the full week of the concert is critical to the success of the performances. And so we did have to cancel a rehearsal on Tuesday night and our Thursday night rehearsal was looking like it might not be possible.”

There were also safety concerns for “just the loading of our instruments,” Truitt said.

“Right now, for example, we can’t even get into our offices to have access to get out the harp and the timpani, and the sound shells, and all the necessary equipment that’s needed to transport from our offices on 10th Street over to the high school,” she said. “The snow is so treacherous and high there’s no access on the streets.”

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

There were also 12 guest musicians scheduled to arrive Wednesday, whose arrival was uncertain, as was the ability of residents providing housing to accommodate them given the difficulties many people were having accessing their homes.

Truitt said that while concerts were canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic, she and the previous executive director are unaware of any that have been canceled previously due to inclement weather.

The two concerts were scheduled to feature Brahms’ “Symphony No. 1,” plus Greig’s “The First Meeting,” Mozart’s “Overture to the Magic Flute” and modern composer Jennifer Higdon’s “Blue Cathedral.” Truitt said it’s not possible to reschedule that particular show, although the hope is compositions from it will be featured in other upcoming concerts.

People who have already purchased tickets can exchange them for a future concert, Truitt said.

“We’ve already incurred lots of expenses to put on the concert,” she said when asked about refunds. “We’re a nonprofit organization and we are incurring expenses for the concert whether we hold it or not.”

The symphony can be contacted through its website at www.juneausymphony.org, or at (907) 586-4676 or info@juneausymphony.org.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of March 23

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

President Donald Trump delivers remarks at an event where he announced new tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House, in Washington, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. President Trump unveiled his most expansive tariffs to date in a ceremony at the White House on Wednesday afternoon, saying he would impose a 10 percent tariff on all trading partners. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times)
Trump imposes vast global tariffs; some key partners hit hard

©10% tariff for all countries; trading partners like China, Japan and Europe face significantly higher rates.

Tidal Echoes editors Annie Kessler and Adonis Scalia holding 2025 editions (Photo from @uas.tidalechoes on Instagram)
Tidal Echoes launches 2025 literary and arts journal Friday at UAS

Featured artist Mark Sixby and writer Corinna Cook will discuss works at unveiling.

Clockwise from top center: Malia Towne, Mackenzie Englishoe, Sophie Swope and Jazmyn Lee Vent. (Image by Mer Young/High Country News)
How Alaska Native youth are protecting the land for their future ancestors

Four women devoting careers to preservation of Indigenous lifeways under threat in Alaska.

Art by Christine Kleinhenz of Tide Watcher will be featured at The Bear’s Lair as part of First Friday in April. (Juneau Arts and Humanities Council photo)
Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in April

A poster tribute leading up to the 50th Alaska Folk Festival and… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Sunday, March 30, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

A Capital City Transit Center electric bus (left) and diesel bus (right) wait for passengers at the Downtown Transit Center on Friday, March 7, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Capital Transit is constructing a charging station for its new electric buses

Capital Transit superintendent says fleet offering better experience than first electric bus received in 2020.

Signs at the front of the Alaska State Capitol on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, indicate a designated entrance for legislators and their staff, and direct members of the public to a separate door. The signs were in anticipation of a security screening policy that was put on hold, but on Monday a similar policy was approved by the Legislative Council. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Airport-style security screening coming soon to Alaska State Capitol after Legislative Council’s OK

“It will probably be a couple weeks before it’s all in place,” says Rep. Sara Hannan, the council’s chair.

Most Read