A concert featuring the revered, Grammy-winning British vocal ensemble The King’s Singers has been cancelled over “concerns” expressed regarding the “lifestyle” of a member of the group.
The performance, which was to take place at the Pensacola Christian College in Florida on 11 February, was abruptly called off just two hours before a scheduled 7pm start.
In a statement, the King’s Singers said they were “deeply saddened” by the turn of events, noting that it was the first time in the ensemble’s 55-year history that a King’s Singers concert had been cancelled other than for reasons of inclement weather, pandemic or war.
The King’s Singers. Photo supplied.
The statement continued: “We have performed at Pensacola Christian College before and we entered into the engagement in the knowledge that this is a fundamentalist Christian institution. Our belief is that music can build a common language that allows people with different views and perspectives to come together.”
Pensacola Christian College countered by releasing its own statement, saying that the concert was cancelled “upon learning that one of the artists openly maintained a lifestyle that contradicts Scripture.”
“The highly talented musicians were treated with dignity and respect...
“Our belief is that music can build a common language that allows people with different views and perspectives to come together.” The vicious Christian right is enabled by this sort of wishy-washy attitude. Stop being gullible. Trump has now said he wants to bring back beheadings. Unless de Santis and his lunatic supporters are ostracised by civilisation, they will be burning gay people at the stake in 10 years. Progressives need to understand that in the long run, and if they make their way back to their lost power over society, the religions will resume with gusto their traditional cruelty and violence. It is in their DNA.
How impoverished the Florida people are to have an educational institution like that in their midst as well as such a bigoted Governor.