After canceling the last two concerts of its 2019-2020 season, Concerts by the Bay announced that it has “hit pause” and will not be rescheduling the concerts anytime soon.

Several important concerns limit what they’re able to do at this time, said a letter to patrons from organization president Martha Rhodes. First is the availability of the organization’s venue, the Harry M. Ward Auditorium at Mathews High School.

Rhodes said that Mathews School Superintendent Nancy Welch had expressed uncertainty about when and under what conditions outside organizations will be able to use the auditorium. She said Welch had suggested revisiting the issue in three to five months.

“As you are probably aware, school systems must submit detailed plans to the state for how to open safely,” said the letter. “The school must follow the CDC guidelines … As Ms. Welch stated, the strategies that are put in place are still not guaranteed to prevent viral transmission.”

Further, said Rhodes, the P...