Nashville Symphony Furloughs Musicians and Staff Amid Financial Emergency
The Nashville Symphony has declared a financial emergency, leading to the furlough of 77 musicians and 27 full-time employees. The organization has suspended its 2026 season and is facing a $10 million deficit. Joel Reist, chairman of the Nashville Orchestra Committee, described the situation as 'infuriating and humiliating,' stating he plans to sell his bass to cover living expenses. Musicians learned of the furloughs with little notice, losing their paychecks and health insurance. The symphony's CEO, Mark Cantrell, who had only taken the role on August 1, stepped down just one day after vowing to lead the restructuring efforts. The organization attributes its financial struggles partly to a slow recovery from audience drops during the pandemic.
