Ben Folds warns National Symphony Orchestra may dissolve

Ben Folds, the Grammy-nominated musician and former artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra, has issued a public warning that the NSO is in danger of dissolving amid ongoing turmoil at its home, the Kennedy Center. In an open letter shared on social media, Folds stated the orchestra is in real trouble and may not survive, citing a lack of a clear plan for its future.

The orchestra’s crisis stems from a period of significant change at the Kennedy Center that began after former President Donald Trump assumed the role of chairman in 2025. Subsequent actions included the appointment of a new board, a proposed two-year closure of the center for renovations, and a vote to add Trump’s name to the building’s title. Last week, a federal judge ordered the removal of Trump’s name from the building, ruling the change required congressional approval. The judge’s order also aimed to restore political independence to the institution. A spokesperson for the center has indicated plans to appeal the name-change order.

Folds, who resigned from his advisory role in February 2025, argues that the legal victory does not immediately solve the symphony’s pressing problems. He notes that the...