“‘American exceptionalism’ during the 20th century included the standing and stature of our symphony orchestras,” writes attorney and string player Jonathan Kaledin. “Taking American orchestra ‘exceptionalism’ further into the 21st century now requires a complete rethinking of the role our federal government plays in providing financial support for these institutions. … What does it say about us that our federal government spent $245 billion bailing out financial institutions that were ‘too big to fail,’ but it will not consider meaningful support for our magnificent but financially distressed symphony orchestra institutions?”