PR -New Year’s Eve Concert at The Grand Postponed Due to Increasing COVID-19 Numbers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - DECEMBER 22, 2021

WILMINGTON, Del. —  The Grand, Delaware Symphony Orchestra, and OperaDelaware announced jointly today the postponement of their planned New Year’s Eve concert due to the rising COVID-19 numbers related to the omicron variant. Given the alarming health trends nationwide, this joint decision was arrived at by all three organizations in consultations with our guest artists, all with our patrons’ safety in mind.

The Grand’s Executive Director Mark Fields reassured, “We have every intention of rescheduling this performance for a date in 2022. The holidays are an important time for all of us, and the last thing any of us wanted to do was to put our audiences, artists, and special guests at risk for infection at the height of this new wave.”

The evening was to consist of a two-act program beginning with traditional New Year’s concert music, including Viennese waltzes and polkas. The orchestra was to be joined by guest artists from OperaDelaware singing some operatic greatest hits. The second act was to feature the talents of Tony-award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell for a celebration of Broadway standards throughout the years. “One of the great aspects of this chosen program of light classical and Broadway music,” says J.C. Barker, the Delaware Symphony Orchestra’s Executive Director, “is that it will be delightful to hear at any time of the year.”

“The past two years has been such a challenging time for all who love, support, create, and perform live music,” says Brendan Cooke, OperaDelaware’s General Director. “This concert was intended to be a joyful return to live performance by all three organizations, but that will need to wait until it is safe to gather in such large numbers again.”

Patrons are asked to wait to be contacted by The Grand in the New Year as it relates to their tickets. “There are a number of logistical pieces related to postponing an event of this size and your patience is highly appreciated,” says Fields.

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These programs are supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.

ABOUT OPERADELAWARE
OperaDelaware, now in its 76th year, is a professional non-profit opera company with a reputation for excellence in both opera and arts education. OperaDelaware opens the door to bold, vibrant and creative operatic programming that enriches the community, transforms audiences, and encourages dialogue.

ABOUT THE DELAWARE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Established over 100 years ago, the Delaware Symphony Orchestra is among the premier regional orchestras in the U.S. and the only professional orchestra in Delaware. The DSO’s performance season presents classical and contemporary repertoires in full orchestra and chamber music concerts. Along with its educational programs and performances, and other special events, the DSO attracts audiences of all ages throughout the state.

ABOUT THE GRAND
Celebrating 150 years in December 2021, The Grand has been one of the region’s premier performing arts presenters, offering music, dance, comedy, and family-focused programming, along with the best of touring Broadway. The organization is a 501(c)3 non-profit arts organization and operates three venues on Wilmington’s Market Street arts corridor (Copeland Hall, the baby grand, and The Playhouse on Rodney Square). The opulent and historic Grand Opera House has been a landmark for the residents of Wilmington and the surrounding region for 150 years. Opened in 1871 as a home for the Grand Lodge of the Masons, The Grand played host to thousands of renowned entertainers and performing artists over the years, including Ethel Barrymore, Buffalo Bill Cody, John Philip Sousa, political cartoonist Thomas Nast, and the Jubilee Singers of Fisk University. Reopened in 1973 after falling into disrepair in 1960s, the current organization has had artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Willie Nelson, The White Stripes, Trey Anastasio, Wanda Sykes, Sinbad, Lewis Black, Ron White, Lisa Lampanelli, Pete Davidson, and more grace their stages. Between The Grand, its resident performing companies, and rentals, the building hosts more than 300 events a year bringing more than 120,000 people into downtown Wilmington and through its doors.

MEDIA RELATIONS

Press contact: For interview requests, please email us at bcooke@operade.org or call 302-658-8063.

Organizational images: Available for download here

 Advertising inquiries: For advertising and sponsorship information, please contact Jordan Barrett at jbarrett@operade.org.