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37th San Diego International Summer Organ Festival 2025
Raúl Prieto Ramírez, Artistic Director & San Diego Civic Organist
EVERY MONDAY NIGHT JULY 7 TO SEPTEMBER 1 AT 7:30PM
NO ADMISSION CHARGE FOR ATTENDANCE
FIRST CLASS INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS
90 MINUTE CONCERTS/NO INTERMISSION
JOSHUA STAFFORD, ORGAN
Bohemian Rhapsody, Carmen Fantasy and other all-time favorites
Joshua Stafford’s connection to the Spreckels Organ comes as the Director of Sacred Music and the Jared Jacobsen Chair for the Organist of the Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, New York (Jared Jacobsen served as San Diego Civic Organist from 1978 to 1984). In 2016, Stafford was awarded the first prize of the Longwood Gardens International Organ Competition. He holds degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music and Yale School of Music.
RICHARD HILLS, ORGAN
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A display of virtuosity from the UK
Richard Hills is widely acknowledged as one of the world's leading contemporary theatre organists, and is also one of the very few musicians to have mastered the divide between the classical and theatre organ. He has numerous prizes and awards both in the UK and in the USA, where he was named 'Organist of the Year' in 2010 by the American Theatre Organ Society. He made his solo debut at the BBC Proms in 2013, returning to the Proms as an organ soloist in 2015 season and appeared with the BBC Scottish Symphony and John Wilson Orchestras during the 2019 Proms season.
KEN COWAN, ORGAN
Saint-Saëns Danse Macabre, Elgar Sonata and more
Ken Cowan is one of North America’s finest concert organists. Praised for his dazzling artistry, impeccable technique and imaginative programming by audiences and critics alike, he maintains a rigorous performing schedule which takes him to major concert venues and churches in America, Canada, Europe, and Asia. He is Professor of Organ and head of the organ program at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in Houston, Texas.
AHREUM HAN, ORGAN
From Johann Sebastian Bach to Scott Joplin
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Ahreum Han returns to the San Diego International Summer Organ Festival after a unique debut in 2021 that was met by a fabulous thunderstorm that made for one of the most iconic festival concerts, something she approached with an extraordinary professionality and gracious attitude towards the audience. A native of Seoul, South Korea, Ahreum Han’s imaginative, powerful, and extraordinary performances have thrilled audiences throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe.
AUGUST 4 · 7:30pm
ALISA JORDHEIM (soprano)
RAÚL PRIETO RAMÍREZ (San Diego Civic Organist)
Where the Expressivity of the Human Voice meets the Grandeur of the pipe Organ
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Following the tremendous success of Alisa’s December Holiday Concert at the Spreckels Organ with San Diego Opera Chorus and San Diego Civic Organist Raúl Prieto Ramírez, she is now back to share her extraordinary musicality and breathtaking technique as part of the International Summer Organ Festival for a program featuring Opera Arias, Lieder and Musical Theater favorites.
AUGUST 11 · 7:30pm
CHELSEA CHEN, ORGAN
Saint-Saëns Finale from Symphony No.3, Super Mario Fantasia and other great hits
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Chelsea Chen is a San Diego native whose playing has been described as “stunning” and possessing “lovely lyrical grandeur” (Los Angeles Times). A Fulbright scholar and graduate of Juilliard and Yale University, she has performed to great acclaim at many important venues including Singapore’s Esplanade, Hong Kong’s Cultural Centre, Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center, and Los Angeles’ Disney Hall. She currently serves as Artist-in-Residence at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Manhattan.
AUGUST 18 · 7:30pm
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AN ORGAN & ORCHESTRA CELEBRATION!
Four great organ concertos in one single concert
Featuring RAÚL PRIETO RAMÍREZ (soloist-organ)
ALEJANDRO GÓMEZ GUILLÉN (conductor)
and JEFF THAYER (concertmaster)
One of the most ambitious endeavors of the International Summer Organ Festival so far, this special concert is an opportunity for San Diegans to experience their very own world-unique Spreckels Organ as the soloist for no less than four great concertos for organ and orchestra by Bach, Parker, Poulenc and Prieto Ramirez. This concert is a true celebration of the Spreckels Organ!
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NOT-SO-SILENT MOVIE NIGHT!
Balboa Theatre Organist Russ Peck featuring Laurel & Hardy films.
The Not-So-Silent Movie Night returns as one of the most cherished summer events in San Diego, gathering thousands of San Diegans for a classy evening filled with humor and charm under the night sky.
SEPTEMBER 1 · 7:30pm
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THE BEATLES 60TH SAN DIEGO ANNIVERSARY
“Organ-ismic” The Spreckels Organ Pavilion’s Classic Rock Band - the only Rock Band in the world that features a real pipe organ - celebrates the 60th anniversary of The Beatles' one and only concert in San Diego with 90 minutes of their greatest hits. The experience will be enhanced with projections over the Pavilion front in the 1960s style.
ORGAN-ISMIC
The Organ Pavilion's Classic Rock Band
Joining Raúl Prieto Ramírez, San Diego Civic Organist
CHLOE LOU
Vocals
LAUREN LEIGH
Vocals and guitar
WILLIAM FLEMING
Vocals
BEN ZINN
HARLEY MAGSINO
Guitar
Bass guitar
RICHARD "T-BONE" LARSON
Drums
The Festival on the Media
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