Mount Wilson Observatory (MWO) — Southern California’s esteemed home to several of the most groundbreaking astronomical discoveries in history — presents the seventh Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome of its 2025 season, inside the magnificent vaulted dome of MWO’s historic 100-inch telescope.
On Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, the audience is invited to experience the New Hollywood String Quartet, featuring Tereza Stanislav and Rafael Rishik (violins), Robert Brophy (viola) and Andrew Shulman (cello), for an all Schubert program including the Quartettsatz, followed by the String Quintet, D956, with cellist Cécilia Tsan who will join the quartet for the performance.
As in previous seasons, Artistic Director Cécilia Tsan (Principal Cellist, Long Beach Symphony and Los Angeles Master Chorale) curates the series. Each concert date of the season features the same program presented twice — first at 3 pm and again at 5 pm. There will be an artist reception at 4 p.m. between each concert’s hour-long session.
Tickets cost $60 each and are available for purchase online in advance (highly recommended) or at the door, given availability.
For more information on this concert, please visit mtwilson.edu/events/concert092125.
For more on the entire Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome series, please visit mtwilson.edu/concerts.
| THE REMAINING CONCERTS IN THE 2025 SEASON Oct. 5 – Musical Friends – Roger Wilkie (violin), Jonah Sirota (viola), Jonathan Flaksman (cello), Geoff Osika (bass), Gigi Brady (oboe) and Sergio Coelho (clarinet). A winds & strings celebration. This program curated by Jonah Sirota will include works by Hans Gal, Britten and Prokofiev. |
| Oct.19 – Mariachi Lindas Mexicanas – Carte Blanche to Los Angeles’ all-female Mariachi Band. |
OTHER MWO EVENTS THIS FALL
Sep. 13 – Talks & Telescopes w/ Lia Halloran
Sep. 27 – Matinees on the Mountain screening “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” and feat. Bob Baker Marionette Theater
Oct. 26 – Arts@TheObservatory feat. JamesGriffith’s Small Paintings of Infinity exhibit closes
THE VENUE
The 100-inch telescope is the instrument with which astronomer Edwin Hubble discovered our place in an expanding universe and deeply expanded human knowledge. The dome for the telescope — designed by seminal Chicago architect Daniel Burnham — is a 20th-century temple to science whose acoustics rival the great cathedrals of Europe, a truly unique setting for this ambitious music series.
VISITING MWO
The gate to Mount Wilson’s campus opens at 10 a.m. daily and closes at 5 p.m. from early April through November. Entrance to the grounds is free. Visitors can hike, gaze at the telescope domes and towers that dot the landscape, and take a look at historic Mount Wilson photos and letters in the Museum.
The Cosmic Cafe, located above the main parking lot at the Observatory entrance, is open on weekends in the spring, summer and fall. In addition to traditional menu items such as hot dogs, drinks, and snacks, the Cafe offers wraps, salads and sweet treats from Little Flower.
LOCATION
Mount Wilson Observatory
Mount Wilson Circle Road & Mount Wilson Toll Road
Mount Wilson, CA 91023
On MWO’s website, the “Map” page shows various SoCal routes to the 2 and 210 Freeways which feed into Angeles Crest Highway leading to Red Box Road, which then leads to Mount Wilson Circle Road.
PLEASE NOTE: Do not rely on directions given by phone apps, they can be incorrect. We recommend downloading and printing this PDF map with directions.
PARKING
A U.S. Forest Service Adventure Pass is required to park at the Observatory. A $5 day pass or a $30 annual pass may be purchased at the Cosmic Cafe on weekends between 10 am and 5 pm. During the week, passes are available at locations around Los Angeles. The most convenient location before heading up is at the Shell station in La Canada Flintridge at the bottom of the Angeles Crest Highway. Click here to go to the U.S. Forest Service website for more information about Passes and other locations to buy them.
NOT ADA-COMPLIANT
Please be advised that access to the 100-inch dome is via an open-air, 53-step staircase inside the building. There is no ADA-compliant access.
Photo caption: Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome / Photo credit: Melissa Dougherty