Longtime Music Director Leaves Kennedy Center Amidst Ongoing Staff Turnover
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., continues to experience significant changes in its leadership team as Kevin Struthers, who has been a senior director of music programming for three decades, has been dismissed. Struthers confirmed his exit last Thursday.
This recent departure is part of a broader wave of exits and dismissals at the Kennedy Center, which began after President Trump took on the role of chairperson in February and appointed Richard Grennell as the new president. These developments have been closely followed by media outlets, with The Washington Post reporting on the series of changes.
Struthers held the position of administrative director for jazz programming at the Kennedy Center. Under his leadership, the center became renowned for showcasing both eminent and rising jazz talents. Currently, the only scheduled major jazz event is a performance by The Glenn Miller Orchestra in October, a band that has its roots going back to 1939.
As of now, the Kennedy Center has not responded to NPR’s questions regarding the recent termination and the future direction of its jazz and Millennium Stage programming. The center’s jazz programming previously saw the departure of its former artistic director, Jason Moran, a respected composer and pianist, who left in July after a decade-long tenure.
