Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
February 19, 2026

Mainly Mozart's 38th All-Star Festival Unites Top Orchestral Talent in San Diego

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TLDR

  • Mainly Mozart's 2026 All-Star Orchestra Festival offers exclusive access to top-tier musicians from leading orchestras, providing a competitive edge in experiencing premier classical performances.
  • The festival runs June 17-27, 2026 with six concerts at two venues, featuring a single concertmaster and soloists performing specific works by Mozart, Beethoven, and others.
  • Mainly Mozart's festival brings world-class music to San Diego, supporting youth programs and making classical music accessible to diverse audiences for cultural enrichment.
  • Experience Grammy-winning soloists and rare performances like Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez on guitar at North America's largest Mozart celebration this summer.

Impact - Why it Matters

This festival matters because it represents one of the most significant classical music events in North America, bringing together elite musicians who typically perform with different orchestras throughout the year. For classical music enthusiasts, it offers a rare opportunity to hear principal players from institutions like the New York Philharmonic and Chicago Symphony collaborate in a single ensemble, creating unique musical chemistry that can't be replicated in regular season performances. The festival's impact extends beyond entertainment—it elevates San Diego's cultural standing, attracts tourism, and supports music education for hundreds of young musicians through Mainly Mozart's youth programs. In an era where classical music institutions face challenges in reaching new audiences, this festival demonstrates how innovative programming that combines beloved classics with distinctive repertoire can engage both seasoned concertgoers and newcomers to the genre.

Summary

The Mainly Mozart organization has announced the dates and program for its 38th All-Star Orchestra Festival, the largest Mozart celebration in North America, set to run from June 17 to 27, 2026 in San Diego. This prestigious event brings together concertmasters and principal players from top U.S. and Canadian orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and The Philadelphia Orchestra, under the direction of Music Director Michael Francis. A notable highlight for the 2026 season is the appointment of David Kim from The Philadelphia Orchestra as the sole concertmaster for all six concerts, a role that has been shared among multiple musicians in recent years. The festival will feature performances at two premier venues: the first five concerts at Baker-Baum Concert Hall in The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, and the grand finale at UC San Diego's Epstein Family Amphitheater.

The 2026 festival boasts an impressive lineup of soloists, including acclaimed pianist Anne-Marie McDermott performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3, internationally celebrated guitarist Mak Grgić featured in Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez, Grammy-nominated pianist Anton Nel interpreting Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 9 "Jenamy," and Grammy Award-winning violinist James Ehnes performing Schumann's Violin Concerto and Brahms's Double Concerto alongside Robert DeMaine, Principal Cello of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The diverse program blends beloved symphonies and concertos with distinctive repertoire, offering audiences both familiar masterpieces and unexpected musical discoveries. Festival packages and single tickets are available for purchase through the organization's website, with prices ranging from $68-$155 for Conrad performances and $25-$250 for the amphitheater finale.

Founded in 1988, Mainly Mozart has established itself as a cornerstone of San Diego's cultural landscape, bringing world-class orchestral performances and transformative music education to the community. The All-Star Orchestra Festival represents the nation's largest annual gathering of concertmasters and principal players, and in 2025 earned recognition as North America's largest Mozart festival while being welcomed into the prestigious International Mozarteum Foundation's "Mozart Communities." Beyond the stage, the organization nurtures future generations through the Mainly Mozart Youth Orchestra and educational programs reaching over 350 young musicians across San Diego County. As Nancy Laturno, Founding CEO of Mainly Mozart, emphasized, the festival reaffirms San Diego's place as a destination for world-class classical music, promising audiences brilliance, depth, and unforgettable musical moments.

Source Statement

This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Mainly Mozart's 38th All-Star Festival Unites Top Orchestral Talent in San Diego

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