In recent weeks, the Bay Area has made national news with an outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) that has seen 14 confirmed cases in Santa Clara County as of March 4, 2020. Due to this growing concern, and in an effort to protect our members and staff, Vanguard Music and Performing Arts will be cancelling upcoming March events, including drum corps rehearsal camps and the annual Vanguard Birthday Brunch on March 28.
“This decision was not made lightly, but we must act with an abundance of caution in order to safeguard the health and well-being of our students and staff,” said Brett Bernardini, VMAPA Executive Director. “There is a level of uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 that makes any and all decisions difficult, but it is important we err on the side of caution and prevention.”
The County of Santa Clara Health Department is working closely with a team from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to put forth recommendations for how individuals and organizations can take action to help slow down the spread of this disease. Meanwhile, the VMAPA leadership team, in consultation with program staff and DCI Officials, is in the process of crafting a detailed policy that will guide our action through the foreseeable future.
“As with all Vanguard policies, we will continue to position our membership’s safety above all else,” said Bernardini. “There is nothing more pressing than the health and well-being of our students, and that’s always at the forefront of our decision-making process.”
In the coming days, VMAPA Management will be reaching out to offer refunds to those who have already purchased tickets to the Vanguard Birthday Brunch event.
