Press Room

May 14, 2020

SAN FRANCISCO, CA—Due to the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 situation, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the China Philharmonic Orchestra have announced cancellations of their 2020 tours to the United States. As a result, the following 2020–21 season Great Performers Series concerts at Davies Symphony Hall are canceled:
 
October 18: Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, & the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
October 19: Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, Gidon Kremer, & the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra 
November 8: China Philharmonic Orchestra Plays Rachmaninoff

The following options are available for those who have already purchased tickets to canceled concerts:

• Donate your ticket(s) and receive a tax deduction for the total ticket value.

• The federal CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) now allows all taxpayers to take a charitable deduction of up to $300, even if you do not itemize. If you do itemize your deductions, the new law allows for cash contributions to qualified organizations—including the San Francisco Symphony—to be deducted (up to 100% of your adjusted gross income) for the 2020 calendar year.
• Your ticket donation will be matched by a group of generous San Francisco Symphony Board members and donors—including President Sakurako Fisher and William Fisher, President-elect Priscilla B. Geeslin and Keith Geeslin, former President John Goldman and Marcia Goldman, and Development Committee Chair Trine Sorensen and Michael Jacobson—who have committed to match all ticket donations through an initial matching fund of $1 million. Every donation will have a tremendous impact on the San Francisco Symphony.

• Exchange your ticket(s) for a gift certificate, which can be used at any time.

• You will receive an additional 20% credit applied to your gift certificate based on the value of previously purchased tickets, for use towards the purchase of tickets to future concerts. This credit will not expire.

• Receive a refund for the value of the ticket(s).

Ticketholders are encouraged to consider donating the cost of their ticket/s back to the San Francisco Symphony, or to ask for a gift certificate for the value of their ticket/s. This helps support the organization as an arts nonprofit during this challenging time as we navigate the significant, ongoing impact of the COVID-19 situation.

All requests for ticket donations, exchanges, gift certificates, and refunds must be received by August 31, 2020. For assistance, please contact the Box Office by phone at 415-864-6000 or email at [email protected]. Box Office hours (for phone and emails only) are Mon–Fri: 10am–6pm. Box Office windows will remain closed through May 31.

[To download the full PDF version of this press release, click the link at the top of the page]