San Antonio Philharmonic is canceling the remainder of the group’s 2025-2026 season, officials announced on Feb. 21. The decision, delivered by the Philharmonic’s board, continues a decades-long cycle of uncertainty for San Antonio’s only major orchestra, according to faculty in the Trinity music department. Now, community musicians, including several Trinity faculty members, find themselves without a professional ensemble to perform with.

The cancellation may not be an isolated setback, according to Carolyn True, professor of music and longtime supporter of the orchestra. After the collapse of the San Antonio Symphony in 2022, the musicians immediately reformed as the Philharmonic. Although True said there was hope that the new organization would be more successful than its predecessor, the season was suspended following Music Director Jeffrey Kahane’s departure, announced on Feb. 9.

“If you look at the history of the San Antonio Symphony and then its rebirth as the San Antonio Philharmonic, there have been difficulties and challenges in succeeding in this town from the beginning,” True said. “A lot of dominoes have fallen over the years, and it’s kind of like, how far back do you want to get to which domino?”

For faculty who perform with the Philharmonic, the cancellation of the rest of their season is more than a scheduling inconvenience. Performing members now face both artistic and financial fallout, while students lose a cultural anchor in the city’s arts scene, True said.

“It’s hard because it is the heart of our community,” True said. “For our faculty members who are affiliated with the Philharmonic, this is not only detrimental for them financially, but artistically. In this town, we’re losing our only professional orchestra.”

The loss of the Philharmonic, even if temporary, will be felt far beyond the musicians themselves, True said. In a moment when artificial intelligence is redefining creative work, she said it’s especially important to support institutions that preserve human connection.

“Live music and experience with the arts are essential for our souls,” True said. “We are changed by being in the same room as live music … it can never be reproduced the same way. To have that community experience – to be immersed in that kind of sound – and in that collective consciousness of experience, it can’t be replicated.”

Like True, John Meriwether, professor of music, has seen San Antonio’s orchestral scene change over the years. Currently, he performs with the Philharmonic as a substitute percussionist. He said it was very disappointing to hear that this season is ending prematurely.

“The first thing I think of is the financial blow. But ultimately, my favorite thing is playing music and having performances on the horizon,” Meriwether said. “When you see that on the calendar, it always feels really good. So having the rest of the season canceled and having all that up in the air, that’s the biggest emotional hit.”

Growing up in San Antonio with two music-loving parents, Meriwether said the San Antonio Symphony was a fixture of his childhood. Now, with Project Marvel and other major development plans underway, he’s disappointed to see the arts left behind, he said.

“It is a big deal, but I don't know how upset the city of San Antonio actually is about it,” Meriwether said. “The Spurs are awesome, and I think they deserve a downtown arena. They seem to get all this support from the city, rightfully so, but it just doesn’t seem to extend to the arts and developing a true scene here for not just orchestral music, but theater, art and culture.”

The Philharmonic leadership, including CEO Roberto Treviño, has indicated there is still hope for next season, according to True. She added that any long-term solutions will require cooperation across institutions and communities.

“Treviño is still talking about the positive aspects, and the board is working tirelessly to figure out the next steps,” True said. “Without all of the dominoes working together, I think in many ways, it’s like our society. We have to band together for something more important than ourselves.”

The Philharmonic’s board has not released a follow-up statement since the cancellation announcement. The future of the orchestra remains unclear, but True and Meriwether said the community may have a hand in how the next domino falls.