San Diego International Organ Festival is back for its 33rd annual lineup bringing world-class musical artists to this unique music venue for San Diegans and visitors to enjoy, for free. The line-up brings three months of music and entertainment including musical performances curated by the Spreckels Organ Society, a Beer and Wine Festival, and a Halloween Open-Air Silent Movie Night.
All Concerts are Free!
All concerts on the Spreckels Organ are free to the public in accordance with the 1915 Deed of Gift whereby the brothers John and Adolph Spreckels gave the organ and pavilion to the City of San Diego. To work cooperatively with the City in order to fulfill and expand upon the promise of regular free concerts on the City ́s organ, the Spreckels Organ Society was founded in 1988. Its mission is to preserve, program, and promote the Spreckels Organ as a world treasure for all people.
“We’re creating enchanted musical experiences ready to awaken the senses and enliven the spirit, said Raúl Prieto Ramírez, artistic director of Spreckels Organ Society. Ramírez presents more than 50 different programs a year in San Diego and enjoys a busy international schedule with concerts at major Festivals and Concert Halls, and Masterclasses for prestigious universities, including Indiana University and the Moscow Conservatory. He brings an unparalleled lens to selecting and coordinating the concert line-up for San Diego.
Simply plan to visit the Festival and enjoy seating on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information visit here.
Concerts By Date
- August 30th 7:30PM – “Opening Concert: from Vivaldi to Piazzola” HECTOR OLIVERA.
- September 6th 7:30PM – “Labor Day Rock Concert from the Spreckels Organ Pavilion” – Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Van Halen & Deep Purple – The Spreckels Organ Pavilion Rock Band.
- September 13th 7:30PM – “Music from three continents – Violin and Organ duo” FANG GAO (violin) & WEICHENG ZHAO (organ).
- September 20th 7:30PM – “A Night of Mystery and Fantasy with Raúl Prieto Ramírez” RAÚL PRIETO RAMÍREZ, San Diego Civic Organist Operation MINDBLOW, projections.
- September 27th 7:30PM – “Wagner, Bach, Rachmaninoff, Schumann and more” ALCÉE CHRIS.
- October 4th 7:30PM – “Three Jazz Organ Preludes, Jacques Offenbach and more” AHREUM HAN.
- October 11th 7:30PM – “St. Patrick’s Cathedral organist in New York City” MICHAEL HEY.
- October 18th 7:30PM – “From Bach’s finesse to the Strauss Radetzky March” DARYL ROBINSON.
- October 25th 7:30PM – “By popular demand, piano & organ Duo MusArt is back!” MARÍA TERESA.
SIERRA, piano & RAÚL PRIETO RAMÍREZ, organ – DUO MusArt-Barcelona. - October 30th 7:30PM – “Halloween Silent Movie Night” MARK HERMAN, organ.
Beer and Wine Festival
We are happy to announce the return of this ever-popular event on Monday, September 6th at 5:30PM before the Rock ’N’ Roll Organ concert. The event features tastings of popular wines and beers paired with delectable tapas and finger foods. In addition, your admission price guarantees you preferred seating at the concert!
Tickets for the Beer & Wine Festival are limited to 200 and include reserved seating for the rock concert. Tickets are available here but can also be purchased at the door or during Sunday 2PM concerts at the Organ Pavilion. For tickets and information, contact (619) 702-8138.
Halloween Silent Movie Night | Mark Herman, organ | October 30th, 7:30PM
The Halloween Silent Movie Night will feature a film starring Buster Keaton and Laurel & Hardy, with Mark Herman on the organ.
Mark Herman is one of America’s busiest theatre organists, performing over 30 concerts and silent film presentations each year across the US and abroad. In 2012, he was named the American Theatre Organ Society’s Organist of the Year and is the youngest person ever to receive the prestigious honor. Previously, he was overall winner of the Society’s Young Theatre Organist Competition in 2004.
The Spreckels Organ Society is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Spreckels Organ Pavilion is located at 2125 Pan American Road East, in the heart of Balboa Park in San Diego. For more information, visit here.
See you there, San Diego!
