Atlanta Ballet's Live Music Decision Sparks Outrage Among Musicians

Some performers with the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra are saying enough is enough after the organization chose to use recorded music over live performances.

By Gustavo, ExpatsList Blogger

Published: Sep. 19, 2026 at 6:19 AM GMT+2|Updated: 14 minutes ago

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First), Recorded music over live music: That’s why some performers with the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra are saying enough is enough.

It’s one of the most famous pieces of music of all time, but Friday night at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, audience members viewing a ballet rendition of “Passion and Pride” heard a recording rather than a live orchestra during the performance.

“These audience members coming in here now, we believe deserve a better production than they’re going to get tonight,” said Atlanta Federation of Musicians President Bruce Kenney. “Tonight is just going to be a recording, and it’s recordings of orchestral and brass band music, which is unfortunate because that’s what we do.”

Members of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada aren’t too happy with the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra’s choice to make the substitution.

“We understand as musicians, that music is an integral part of the art form,” said another musician. “Music and dance go together. There’s not one without the other. We think it’s important that our audiences, who are tremendous, have the best experience with the complete art form of music and dance together.”

The Atlanta Ballet sent Atlanta News First the following statement on the matter, which reads:

“Ahead of each season, we must carefully balance artistic goals with available resources. This season, we made the difficult decision to focus our orchestra service on recordings, which will allow us to offer more productions and reach a wider audience.”

But for the musicians, the decision is a blow to their livelihoods.

“We’re not just musicians, we’re artists,” said Kenney. “We take pride in our work, and it’s disheartening to see our craft being reduced to a recording. We want to be part of the live performance, to feel the energy of the audience and to be able to connect with them in a more personal way.”

The protest is not just about the music itself, but also about the value placed on live performances.

“It’s not just about the music, it’s about the experience,” said the musician. “When you see a live performance, you feel the energy of the music, you feel the passion of the performers. It’s an experience that can’t be replicated with a recording.”

So, what does this mean for the Atlanta Ballet and its audience?

For the musicians, it means a loss of livelihoods and a sense of disconnection from their craft.

For the audience, it means a less immersive experience and a lack of connection with the performers.

As for the Atlanta Ballet, it means a loss of reputation and a potential backlash from the community.

“We understand that our decision may not be popular with all of our audience members,” said the Atlanta Ballet statement. “We hope that they will continue to support us and appreciate the hard work that goes into each production.”

But for the musicians, the damage is already done.

“We’re not going to be a part of this production,” said Kenney. “We’re going to take a stand and fight for our rights as musicians.”

So, what can the audience do?

They can start by supporting live performances and attending concerts and shows that feature live music.

They can also contact the Atlanta Ballet and express their concerns about the decision to use recorded music.

And, they can support organizations that value live music and the arts.

As for the Atlanta Ballet, it needs to rethink its decision and find a way to balance artistic goals with available resources.

It needs to find a way to offer more productions and reach a wider audience without sacrificing the value of live music.

It needs to listen to the concerns of the musicians and find a solution that works for everyone.

Only then can the Atlanta Ballet restore its reputation and continue to thrive as a world-class arts organization.

But, for now, the protest is a wake-up call for the Atlanta Ballet and its audience.

It’s a reminder that live music is not just about the music itself, but about the experience and the connection that comes with it.

And, it’s a reminder that the value of live music is not just monetary, but also emotional and personal.

So, let’s hope that the Atlanta Ballet will take this opportunity to rethink its decision and find a way to balance artistic goals with available resources.

Let’s hope that they will listen to the concerns of the musicians and find a solution that works for everyone.

And, let’s hope that the audience will continue to support live performances and attend concerts and shows that feature live music.

Because, in the end, it’s not just about the music, it’s about the experience and the connection that comes with it.