On March 19, as the COVID-19 virus spread rapidly in New York City, the Metropolitan Opera announced that it was suspending paychecks indefinitely for its orchestra, chorus, and stagehands, effective March 31. One month later, the members of its renowned orchestra are staring into the financial abyss. Just two days after the furlough was announced, a young wind player canceled the lease on his New York apartment, moved his possessions into a storage unit in the Bronx, got on a plane, and flew home to live with his parents. He is no longer able to support them, as he did previously, with a portion of his paycheck. Hunkered down, the family is making sure to purchase only food and medicine. The orchestral musician is also teaching online lessons at a discount.
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