Princeton\u2019s music department announced a series of program reductions following the annual State of the University\u00a0letter<\/a>, which anticipated across-the-board fiscal tightening. Starting in August, the department will eliminate the position of Trenton Arts at Princeton Program Coordinator, international touring of ensembles, and Richardson Chamber Players under Princeton University Concerts.\u00a0<\/p>\n These cuts are part of a \u201cmulti-year process of ongoing and evolving reductions to our programmatic and operational expenses,\u201d according to an email sent to department members on behalf of Daniel Trueman, chair of the music department.\u00a0<\/p>\n The University plans to tighten its belt due to changing expectations for its endowment returns, which fund<\/a> about two-thirds of the total operating budget. In his letter, University President Christopher Eisgruber \u201983 wrote that the Princeton University Investment Company had reduced its long-term expected rate of return from 10.2 percent to 8 percent, in line with broader economic trends that have dampened investment performance.<\/p>\n Eisgruber wrote that these financial pressures will require \u201ctargeted, and in some cases, deeper, reductions over a multiyear period.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill declined to elaborate on the reductions and potential staff layoffs in the department.<\/p>\n Trenton Arts at Princeton<\/a>, a multidisciplinary group of artists and musicians, will no longer have a program coordinator. Trenton Arts at Princeton aims to \u201cto build a community of young artists across Trenton and Princeton University through student leadership and volunteer opportunities, youth programming, community performances, and more,\u201d according to its website<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Nancy Agosto, the current program coordinator, will leave her role on Aug. 1, when her term ends. Her position will not be rehired in coming semesters, according to the email.<\/p>\n Tienne Yu \u201926, co-president of the Princeton University Orchestra, told The Daily Princetonian that members of the orchestra were disappointed by the restructuring of the Trenton Arts. Through the program, orchestra members regularly work with local students.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe sort of saw the one program, Trenton Arts at Princeton, kind of grow into what it had been,\u201d Yu said. \u201cIt made us sad that the one outreach thing we are a part of is being cut.\u201d<\/p>\n It is not immediately clear how the absence of a program director will affect the program\u2019s operations.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe, along with our colleagues in the Lewis Center, will use these sessions as a time to gain feedback from students and faculty as we explore needed changes,\u201d the email said.<\/p>\n The department will additionally \u201cpause all international touring of department ensembles,\u201d which includes the orchestra and the Glee Club.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re hopeful that when the dust settles, we can start working on a scaled-back plan and maybe take some tours that don\u2019t include flying across the ocean,\u201d Michael Pratt, conductor of the PUO, said in an interview with the \u2018Prince.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re optimistic that we\u2019re going to be able to make something happen. You don\u2019t have to play concerts in Prague and Vienna in order to have a successful tour,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Yu said that Pratt called a meeting with the orchestra to announce these budgetary changes.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were all quite disappointed to hear about [the cuts],\u201d Yu said. She added that, though they were expected, cuts to international tours are \u201cthe only thing everyone in the orchestra is directly affected by.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition, the Richardson Chamber Players series, an ensemble of Princeton University performance faculty, will cease to exist. Richardson Chamber Players puts on three concerts a year, extending the opportunity of performance to vocal and instrumental faculty. According to Pratt, these concerts were valuable to the music department.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe would always mix in the top Princeton instrumentalists or singers in the concert, so that they would get a chance to perform right next to their teacher,\u201d Pratt said. \u201cNothing raises your game quite like that.\u201d<\/p>\n Pratt added that these cuts do not come as a surprise.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cWe\u2019ve seen this coming around the bend,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n The newly announced cuts follow University-wide cost-saving measures implemented<\/a> in 2025 after the Trump administration suspended<\/a> $210 million of the University\u2019s federal research grants, about half of which was later reinstated<\/a>. Previously, the Department of Music cut catering, department gatherings, and advertising for performances, according to the email.<\/p>\n While virtually all University programs are expected to be affected by new endowment-related reductions, these cuts to music programs are among the first to be announced.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lulu Mangriotis is the assistant News editor for the \u2018Prince\u2019 leading student life coverage. She is from New York City and can be reached at lm8001[at]princeton.edu.<\/i><\/p>\n Clara Docherty is the assistant News editor for the \u2018Prince\u2019 leading faculty, graduate students, and alumni coverage. She is from Lafayette, N.J., and can be reached at clara.docherty[at]princeton.edu.<\/i><\/p>\n Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Subscribe\"](\"https:\/\/dirgyzwl2hnqq.cloudfront.net\/12e05dbbcc36e21ef7b3ab061cafad16\/dist\/img\/subscribe-mail.png\")
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