Timothy Lees has been on leave since December due to medical issues related to a nerve injury affecting the fingers of his left hand. He has undergone cervical spine surgery and continues with a plethora of treatments. Lees has been on intermittent leave since the condition rose in April 2016. Although he was able to perform for the orchestra’s tour of Asia in March 2017 and again for the re-opening of the renovated Cincinnati Music Hall in October 2017, persisting symptoms resulted in his going back on leave.