In a major blow to the local arts world, the Vancouver Recital Society has just announced that it is canceling the remainder of its 2020-21 concert season.

"This is the announcement we were hoping we wouldn't have to make," reads the VRS press release issued today. "No doubt this news won't come as a surprise, but it's terribly disappointing nonetheless."

When the society announced the cancellation of its fall concert last July there was hope it would be able to resume concerts in January, but that is not the case. 

The list of canceled shows, all originally scheduled for the Vancouver Playhouse, include cellist Abel Selaocoe (Oct. 18), trombonist Peter Moore (Nov. 1), pianist Tamara Stefanovich (Nov. 22), cellist Zlatomir Fung (Nov. 29), pianist Schaghajegh Nosrati (Dec. 6), pianist Alexander Malofeev (Jan. 17), pianist Tom Borrow (Jan. 24), pianist Andrea Lucchesini (Feb. 14), Omer Quartet & accordionist Hanzhi Wang (Feb. 28), pianist Tony Siqi Yun (March 7), Dover Quartet & harpist Bridget Kibbey (March 21), pianist Filippo Gorini (April 11), pianist Behzod Abduraimov (April 18), the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (April 20), and the Chiaroscuro Quartet (May 2).

Subscribers and single-ticket buyers affected by the cancellations will be automatically issued refunds this Friday (October 16), while patrons wishing to make a tax-deductible donation to the Vancouver Recital Society can do so here.