San Diego Hosts Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival

Six nights of world-class orchestral performances across two iconic venues this June.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival returns to San Diego for its 38th year, featuring six unique concerts across two weeks in June 2026. Led by Music Director Michael Francis, the festival brings together acclaimed concertmasters and principal players from top North American orchestras for an extraordinary musical experience.

Why it matters

San Diego has long been recognized as a hub for the arts, and the Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival is a signature event that showcases the city's commitment to world-class classical music. The festival's diverse programming and talented roster of soloists make it a must-attend event for classical music fans and newcomers alike.

The details

The festival features six concerts over two weeks, with the first five taking place at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall in The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center and the closing night performance at the Epstein Family Amphitheater at UC San Diego. This year, the festival welcomes a single concertmaster, David Kim of The Philadelphia Orchestra, to anchor the entire series. The lineup of soloists includes pianists Anne-Marie McDermott, Anton Nel, and Grammy-winning violinist James Ehnes.

  • The Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival runs from June 17 to June 27, 2026.
  • The first five concerts take place at Baker-Baum Concert Hall in The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center.
  • The closing night performance is held at the Epstein Family Amphitheater at UC San Diego.

The players

Michael Francis

Music Director of the Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival.

David Kim

Concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra, who will anchor the entire festival series.

Anne-Marie McDermott

Pianist who will perform Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 to open the festival.

Mak Grgić

Guitarist who will perform Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez.

Anton Nel

Grammy-nominated pianist who will perform Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 9.

James Ehnes

Grammy Award-winning violinist who will perform Schumann's Violin Concerto and Brahms's Double Concerto.

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What they’re saying

“The Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival is a must-attend event for classical music fans in San Diego. The lineup of world-class soloists and the cohesion of having a single concertmaster across the entire series promises an extraordinary musical experience.”

— Michael Francis, Music Director, Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival (theresandiego.com)

What’s next

Tickets for the 2026 Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival are available in two, four, and six-concert packages. The full festival lineup will be announced in May 2026.

The takeaway

The Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival solidifies San Diego's reputation as a hub for world-class classical music, offering residents and visitors alike the opportunity to experience extraordinary orchestral performances from some of the most acclaimed musicians in North America.