Date/Time
Date(s) - 09/06/2026
3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Location
Mt Wilson Observatory
Category(ies)
2026’s Mt Wilson Sunday Concerts in the Dome (Photo – mtwilson.edu)
On Sunday, September 6, the sound of strings will waft from the mountain as Mt. Wilson’s Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome continue their 2026 season inside the famed 100-inch telescope dome.
Two performances are scheduled for 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm, continuing a concert tradition set within one of Southern California’s most distinctive scientific landmarks.
The Webern String Quartet performs, made up of Benjamin Hoffman and Chiai Tajima, violins; Alex Granger, viola; and Stella Cho, cello. Their program: Todd Mason’s String Quartet No. 5 “The Phoenix” (2025) and Beethoven’s celebrated String Quartet No. 15, Op. 132.
Artistic Director Cécilia Tsan curates the series, which presents chamber music beneath the vaulted dome of the historic telescope. Concerts will continue on the first Sunday of each month through October.
A reception with light refreshments will take place outside the dome at 4:00 pm between performances.
Tickets are priced at $65 and are available online with the full season schedule here.
The concert venue sits inside the historic 100-inch telescope dome at Mount Wilson Observatory, a site closely tied to the history of modern astronomy. Using the telescope, astronomer Edwin Hubble discovered evidence that the universe is expanding, fundamentally changing humanity’s understanding of the cosmos.
Designed by Chicago architect D.H. Burnham, the dome has become known not only as a monument to science but also for acoustics often compared to Europe’s great cathedrals, creating an unusual and immersive setting for live chamber music.
Visitors should note that access to the performance level requires climbing a 53-step staircase. Mount Wilson Observatory is located at an elevation of one mile above sea level, where the air is noticeably thinner. There is no ADA-compliant access to the dome performance level.
Sunday Afternoons in the Dome: Webern String Quartet Sunday, September 6, 2026 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm Location Mt. Wilson Observatory Dome 100 Mt Wilson Circle Road Mt Wilson, CA 91023 Tickets ($65) online here.
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