The world’s largest outdoor pipe organ will be heard every Monday night though August as the 30th annual International Summer Organ Festival begins June 26 in Balboa Park.
The lineup of 10 free concerts is intended to demonstrate the fresh sound of 101-year-old Spreckels Organ, with music ranging from concert classics to rock:
- June 26 — Ty Woodward and the Marine Band San Diego. Woodward is Staff Organist at Disney’s El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.
- July 3 — Jelani Eddington, an award-winning theater organist who has toured throughout the world.
- July 10 — Kiyo and Chiemi Watanabe, a husband and wife organ duo, will make their fifth appearance on the Spreckels stage.
- July 17 — Isabelle Demers, head of the organ program at Baylor University and an international concert artist.
- July 24 — Gordon Turk, the organist of the Ocean Grove Auditorium, NJ, who is a favorite of audiences for his improvisation and showmanship.
- July 31 — Ken Cowan, head of the organ program at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston.
- August 7 — Christian Lane, organist of All Saints Episcopal Parish in Brookline, MA.
- August 14 — Rising Stars Night with you talents Greg Zelek and Seamus Gethicker.
- August 21 — Silent Movie Night with Steven Ball, organist for Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ, playing accompaniment to Buster Keaton’s “Seven Chances.”
- August 28 — Former San Diego Civic Organist Carol Williams is joined by the Carol Williams Band for a tribute to The Doors.
The weekly concerts continue through Aug. 28 every Monday night at 7:30 p.m. Pets on leash are welcome, and light snacks and beverages are available on the organ pavilion grounds.
While the concerts are free, donations donations can be made to the nonprofit Spreckels Organ Society, which working to preserve the great instrument and program as many as 62 concerts a year.
