Now entering its 38th year, the Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival remains the largest gathering of concertmasters and principal players on the continent, assembling elite musicians from ensembles including the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, and dozens more under the direction of Music Conductor Maestro Michael Francis. Since taking the helm in 2014, Francis has helped elevate the festival into one of the nation's premier classical music events, blending virtuosic performances with accessible programming and educational outreach.
The 2026 festival will feature six major performances split between The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center in La Jolla and the UC San Diego Epstein Family Amphitheater. This year's lineup leans heavily into Beethoven while still embracing the festival's “mainly” Mozart philosophy, pairing the legendary composer's works alongside pieces from Prokofiev, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Copland, Rodrigo, Strauss, Schumann, Pärt and more.
Opening night on Wednesday, June 17 at The Conrad sets the tone with a program featuring Mozart's Idomeneo Ballet Music, Prokofiev's playful Symphony No. 1 “Classical,” and Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 performed by acclaimed pianist Anne-Marie McDermott. The evening is dedicated to the memory of Reinette Levine.
The festival continues June 20 with Beethoven's monumental Symphony No. 3 “Eroica,” alongside Copland's complete Appalachian Spring ballet for 13 instruments and Mozart's Bardengesang auf Gibraltar. On June 21, internationally celebrated guitarist Mak Grgic takes center stage for Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez, paired with Mendelssohn's vibrant “Italian” Symphony and several lively Mozart dances and marches.
Pianist Anton Nel headlines the June 23 performance of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 9 “Jenamy,” framed by Lully and Strauss interpretations of Le Bourgeois gentilhomme. The June 25 concert features Grammy-winning violinist James Ehnes performing Schumann's Violin Concerto alongside Mozart's final symphony, the towering “Jupiter,” and Arvo Pärt's haunting Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten.
The festival concludes June 27 at the UCSD Epstein Family Amphitheater with a grand finale centered around Beethoven's iconic Fifth Symphony. James Ehnes returns alongside renowned cellist Robert DeMaine for Brahms' Double Concerto, while the evening also includes Mozart's Fantasia Fugato arranged for orchestra by Ignaz von Seyfried.
As in previous years, each concert at The Conrad will include pre-concert performances and discussions led by pianist Anton Nel and members of the All-Star Orchestra inside The JAI one hour prior to showtime, offering audiences deeper insight into the music and composers. The festival's closing night at Epstein Amphitheater once again embraces a more relaxed outdoor atmosphere where audiences can enjoy music under the stars.
Beyond the performances themselves, the festival continues to reinforce Mainly Mozart's role as one of San Diego's most important cultural institutions. Founded in 1988, the organization has expanded far beyond its namesake festival to include youth orchestras, educational initiatives, community engagement programs, and the annual Mainly Mozart Genius Awards recognizing innovation across multiple disciplines.
The festival also arrives during a particularly strong era for Mainly Mozart and Michael Francis, whose international profile continues to grow through collaborations with major orchestras around the world. Francis, a former double bassist with the London Symphony Orchestra, has conducted ensembles across Europe, Asia, and North America while helping transform Mainly Mozart into one of the country's most respected classical music gatherings.
Tickets and subscription packages for the 2026 Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival are available now, with performances running June 17-27 at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center in La Jolla and UCSD Epstein Family Amphitheater in La Jolla. For more information and tickets, visit mainlymozart.org.
The festival concludes June 27 at the UCSD Epstein Family Amphitheater with a grand finale centered around Beethoven's iconic Fifth Symphony. James Ehnes returns alongside renowned cellist Robert DeMaine for Brahms' Double Concerto, while the evening also includes Mozart's Fantasia Fugato arranged for orchestra by Ignaz von Seyfried.
As in previous years, each concert at The Conrad will include pre-concert performances and discussions led by pianist Anton Nel and members of the All-Star Orchestra inside The JAI one hour prior to showtime, offering audiences deeper insight into the music and composers. The festival's closing night at Epstein Amphitheater once again embraces a more relaxed outdoor atmosphere where audiences can enjoy music under the stars.
Beyond the performances themselves, the festival continues to reinforce Mainly Mozart's role as one of San Diego's most important cultural institutions. Founded in 1988, the organization has expanded far beyond its namesake festival to include youth orchestras, educational initiatives, community engagement programs, and the annual Mainly Mozart Genius Awards recognizing innovation across multiple disciplines.
The festival also arrives during a particularly strong era for Mainly Mozart and Michael Francis, whose international profile continues to grow through collaborations with major orchestras around the world. Francis, a former double bassist with the London Symphony Orchestra, has conducted ensembles across Europe, Asia, and North America while helping transform Mainly Mozart into one of the country's most respected classical music gatherings.
Tickets and subscription packages for the 2026 Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival are available now, with performances running June 17-27 at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center in La Jolla and UCSD Epstein Family Amphitheater in La Jolla. For more information and tickets, visit mainlymozart.org.
Originally published on May 17, 2026.
