The past two weeks have been unlike any Kronos has experienced in its 46-year history. We – David, John, Hank, Sunny, and the Kronos Performing Arts Association staff – are all safe, healthy, and “sheltering in place” in our homes in the San Francisco Bay Area. We know that everyone reading this message is impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and we send our most positive thoughts to you in this very difficult time.
It is hard to imagine that, just 20 days ago, 180 third graders from San Francisco public schools sang “We Shall Overcome” together with Kronos at the Exploratorium (watch the video). Now, nearly all of Kronos Quartet’s remaining concerts this season have been cancelled.
To see the most recent information about Kronos’ schedule, please visit our Events page. This page will continue to be updated. We hope to reschedule as many of the concerts as possible. We know it’s not the same as being there in person, but you can watch some of Kronos’ concerts from over the years on YouTube.
Although live performances are not possible at this time, we are here. Please feel free to reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and our website, and keep an eye on those spaces as we look for new ways to channel our creativity. For example, you can listen to our new crowdsourced Spotify playlist A Season And A Time, featuring “songs that bring peace of mind,” which were suggested by our social media followers.
As always, Fifty for the Future: The Kronos Learning Repertoire is available to everyone in the world, free of charge. There are currently 35 string quartet scores and parts that you can download and begin studying (and practicing, if you play an instrument) with the aid of recordings, instructional videos, and more.
Kronos’ work on stage and off will be deeply impacted in the coming months. We know that there are many in economic need at this time. If you are in a position to do so, we urge you to donate to the Kronos Performing Arts Association. Contributions of any amount help us navigate through these uncertain times. Thank you. We appreciate the many generous donors who support all of our programs.
We look forward to seeing you virtually and, when the time comes again, in the concert hall.
