Group’s Christian college gig canceled over gay members
Just one day after performing a sold-out, critically acclaimed concert in Central Florida, the Grammy-winning King’s Singers were barred from performing at a Christian college in Pensacola — because the group has members who are gay.
Pensacola Christian College, where the group has previously performed, canceled the British a cappella group’s Feb. 11 concert “upon learning one of the artists openly maintained a lifestyle that contradicts Scripture,” according to a statement the school posted on Twitter. A statement from the King’s Singers said the performance was called off just two hours before showtime, leaving the group’s six men “deeply saddened.”
Florida has been making news over its divisive moves by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature on LGBTQ issues. Among them: The Parental Rights in Education Act, dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law by critics because it limits discussion of sexual orientation in schools, and the state’s attempt to revoke the liquor license of Orlando’s Plaza Live because it hosted a drag show to which some parents brought their children.
News of the King’s Singers concert cancellation — and the reason why — has drawn international attention, with The New York Times, BBC News and multiple British newspapers reporting the story.
Established in 1968 by choral students of King’s College at England’s Cambridge University, the group is well-known in the United Kingdom. It has undergone multiple lineup changes over the years and won a Grammy Award in 2009 for best classical crossover album.
The group’s songs do not address or indicate the sexual orientation of any of the members.
“This is the first time that anything other than bad weather, the pandemic or war has caused a concert cancellation in our 55-year history,” the group’s statement said. “We are disappointed not to have been able to share our music and our mission of finding harmony with over 4,000 students of the college and the wider Pensacola community.”
On Feb. 10, the King ’s Singers performed in Knowles Memorial Chapel on the Rollins College Campus as part of the 88th annual Bach Festival. Students and other patrons packed the church on both levels to hear the concert, which Bach Festival Society artistic director John Sinclair said he had been trying to schedule for years.
The singers’ eclectic program, which included everything from medieval madrigals to new arrangements of familiar Disney songs, was met with repeated ovations.
Sinclair told the Sentinel he was “sickened” to hear about the concert cancellation, a sentiment echoed by Bach Festival Society executive director Kathy Berlinsky.
“We loved having the King’s Singers here as part of our Bach Festival,” Sinclair wrote in an email. “They are world-class people, in addition to being world-class artists.”
Pensacola Christian College acknowledged the singers’ artistic skill and said they were still paid for the canceled show.
“The highly talented musicians were treated with dignity and respect when informed of the cancellation,” the statement read. “The artists stated their understanding and acceptance of the change and were given full remuneration.”
But Jonathan Howard, a member of the six-person group, told The Times that the cancellation was “hurtful.”
The group received support on social media from fellow musicians, including British jazz artist Claire Martin, who tweeted, “Wow. Their loss. What year is this? I’m speechless. You’re all amazing and much loved.”
A tweet from the vocal ensemble Anuna offered encouragement: “Keep going guys — this is exactly why artists are on this earth.”
Florida State Rep. Anna Eskamani, whose district includes Winter Park, offered an apology.
“We appreciate you so much, so sorry this happened,” she wrote on Twitter.
And Bach Festival Choir singer Sondra Jo Jones expressed her support on Facebook.
“I am infuriated on your behalf. What a travesty,” she wrote. “You are welcome back to us anytime. We loved having you here last Friday.”
Founded in 1974, Pensacola Christian College has more than 5,000 students, according to its website. Its statement said it had no choice but to cancel the concert, based on the Articles of Faith that guide the school.
“The college cannot knowingly give an implied or direct endorsement of anything that violates the Holy Scripture, the foundation for our sincerely held beliefs,” it wrote. “At the same time, the college also recognizes everyone is created in the image of God and should be afforded the dignity of kindness.”
In their statement, the King’s Singers said they see their artistry as a way to build bridges.
“Our belief is that music can build a common language that allows people with different views and perspectives to come together,” they wrote.
That sentiment was echoed by Sinclair. “I have always viewed music as inclusive, and sadly the cancellation of the King’s Singers shines a light on the reality of how far our society has yet to go,” he told the Sentinel. “It deeply saddens me that the wonderful men of the King’s Singers experienced this treatment. We were proud to host them, and our audience loved them.”
The Singers continued their tour, performing in Toronto on Thursday. Their statement said the cancellation could spark needed discussion, and they didn’t rule out a return to the Sunshine State.
“We hope that any conversations that might follow encourage a greater sense of love, acceptance and inclusion,” they wrote. “We look forward to seeing our friends in northern Florida again soon, in a context where we’re celebrated for who we are, as well as for the music we make.”