Anchorage Concert Association postpones season’s 1st in-person show after performer contracts COVID-19

The Anchorage Concert Association has rescheduled Saturday’s performance by The Piano Guys for spring 2022 due to a member of that group contracting COVID-19.

A statement from The Piano Guys said that cellist Steven Sharp Nelson, who is fully vaccinated, got tested three times to be certain he had COVID-19 before the performance was canceled.

“We’d do anything to have the chance to do this show for you, but we don’t want to put anyone at risk,” read the statement, released by the Concert Association.

The Anchorage Concert Association brings the majority of large-scale, live performances to Alaska, and The Piano Guys show was to be the first indoor performance of the 2021 season after the many cancellations of 2020.

Earlier this month, the Concert Association began to announce a lineup for the 2021-22 season at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. The group announced it would require proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test for admission to any event at the performing arts center.

“Obviously, all of us at the Anchorage Concert Association are disappointed at this news. We have been waiting for 18 months to have a performance on stage,” wrote Jason Hodges, executive director of the Anchorage Concert Association.

The Piano Guys’ performance has been rescheduled for May 14, 2022. The next scheduled performance at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts is Sept. 24-25, featuring comedians Jane Lynch and Kate Flannery.