“Given the likelihood that public health recommendations on social distancing will extend through the summer, we have made the difficult decision to postpone our planned 2020 summer season until 2021,” Sinfonietta Board of Directors President Robin Baxter said in a press release. “We cannot in good conscience plan for audiences to assemble, and for health and safety reasons cannot ask our performing musicians to work shoulder to shoulder on stage as they must in order to create their art. We have also considered that it may not be responsible to encourage the twenty plus musician households of the orchestra to move to the region for the summer.”  

This cancellation will mark only the second time since 1917 that the ensemble which is now the Lake Placid Sinfonietta has not performed. The other “quiet” summer was 1945 when the private Lake Placid Club was in use as a rest hospital for World War II. 

Newly appointed Music Director Stuart Malina expressed his sadness at canceling the season.

“After the months of planning what would have been my first season leading this marvelous group of musicians, it is heartbreaking to cancel,” Malina said in a release. “I am sad for the players, for myself and for our loyal supporters. Having said that, the greater good and the health and well-being of our community must be the driving force in our decision making. We will be back making beautiful music and entertaining the music lovers of the Adirondacks next year.”

The Lake Placid Sinfonietta’s 2021 season will run from July 7 through Aug. 15. Updates on the exact schedule and programming will be posted as soon as possible online at www.lakeplacidsinfonietta.org