Search results for

Mainly Mozart – the San Diego nonprofit behind the acclaimed Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival – today announced the return of its Wine Pairing Series, following the enthusiastic response to its 2024 debut. Presented by Jean-Charles Boisett Wineries, this year’s series features four concertmasters across four weekends of performances, an expansion from last year’s three, and adds Saturday concerts alongside Sundays. The series will again be hosted at the Fairbanks Ranch Country Club. The 2025/2026 series showcases four of America’s leading concertmasters: Jun Iwasaki of the Kansas City Symphony (Nov. 15–16, 2025), Nurit Bar-Josef of the National Symphony (Jan. 10–11, 2026), Nathan Cole of the Boston Symphony (Feb. 21–22, 2026), and Frank Huang of the New York Philharmonic (April 11–12, 2026). The Mainly Mozart Wine Pairing Series events begin with an open hors d'oeuvres reception before audiences are seated for an intimate concert and tasting experience. Each piece on the program is paired with curated wines, chosen to mirror the style and emotion of the music. Wines are poured and selection commentary is provided before each musical work, setting the stage for a multi-sensory experience. Tickets are available at www.mainlymozart.org/wine-series. Seating is limited and early purchase is recommended. 2025/2026 Wine Pairing Series Lineup - Kansas City Symphony November 15 and 16, 2025 - Jun Iwasaki, Concertmaster - Sean Chen, Piano - National Symphony January 10 and 11, 2026 - Nurit Bar-Josef, Concertmaster - Loewi Lin, Cello - Erich Heckscher, Bassoon - Boston Symphony February 21 and 22, 2026 - Nathan Cole, Concertmaster - Steve Ansell, Principal Viola - Blaise Dejardin, Principal Cello - New York Philharmonic April 11 and 12, 2026 - Frank Huang, Concertmaster - Cynthia Phelps, Principal Viola Concert Times Saturdays: 5 p.m. Wine Reception | 6 p.m. Wine Pairing Event Begins Sundays: 4 p.m. Wine Reception | 5 p.m. Wine Pairing Event Begins Mainly Mozart® on Facebook / Instagram

Mainly Mozart, the San Diego nonprofit behind the internationally acclaimed Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival, presents its first Club Amadeus Salon Concert Nov. 23, 2025 featuring acclaimed pianist Anton Nel. Club Amadeus is a series of four exclusive events showcasing top-tier classical artists in private, elegant settings. Internationally acclaimed and South African-born, Nel gained prominence after winning the 1987 Naumburg International Piano Competition at Carnegie Hall. Known for his masterful interpretations of Beethoven and versatility across repertoire, Nel has performed with leading orchestras including the Cleveland Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Seattle Symphony, and Detroit Symphony. In 2025, he will join the faculty at The Royal Conservatory of Music’s Glenn Gould School in Toronto. Earlier this year, Nel was announced as Mainly Mozart’s Artistic Partner for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. A longtime friend of the organization, Nel first joined the All-Star Orchestra Festival in 1989—as the festival’s very first featured soloist on the outdoor stage at The Old Globe. Each Club Amadeus event is hosted at a private residence and begin with a champagne reception and light appetizers at 2 p.m., followed by the concert at 3 p.m., and an intimate artist reception at 4 p.m. Club Amadeus membership is required for attendance. Club Amadeus membership is $1,000 per person and is fully tax-deductible. Membership information is available at www.mainlymozart.org/club-amadeus. Mainly Mozart® on Facebook / Instagram

Mainly Mozart – the San Diego nonprofit behind the highly acclaimed Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival – is honored to announce Erica Ollmann Saphire, Ph.D., MBA, Professor, President and CEO of La Jolla Institute for Immunology, is the 2025 San Diego Genius Award honoree. Dr. Sapphire will be recognized Oct. 18 at the Genius Awards Dinner at the Westgate Hotel. Tickets are available now at mainlymozart.org/genius. Since 2015, the Genius Award has celebrated extraordinary individuals whose contributions span science, technology, and the arts, enrich the community, and embody “Genius in the Spirit of Mozart.” Saphire joins past recipients Dr. Irwin Jacobs (2015), Dr. Andrew Viterbi (2016), Dr. Walter Munk (2017), Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn (2018), Chancellor Pradeep Khosla (2019), Susan Tousi (2022), Dr. David Brenner (2023), and Dr. Al Pisano (2024). This year’s Genius Award Selection Committee members included Martha Dennis (chair), Steve Hart (chair), Irwin Jacobs, Joel Buxbaum, and David Brenner. Dr. Saphire’s pioneering research at La Jolla Institute for Immunology has unraveled the molecular mechanisms by which viruses such as Ebola, Marburg, Lassa, and SARS-CoV-2 infect human cells and evade immune defenses. Under her leadership, teams have solved the high-resolution structures of multiple viral glycoproteins, guided global vaccine design efforts, and spearheaded the collaborative consortia—including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation–supported CoVIC initiative and the NIAID Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Immunotherapeutic Consortium—that united scientists across five continents in life-saving immunotherapeutic research, closing the critical gap between scientific breakthroughs and real-world medical interventions. Recognizing another crucial research gap, Dr. Saphire recently launched a groundbreaking institute-wide initiative focused on uncovering sex-based differences in the immune system. Dr. Saphire’s work has been recognized at the White House with the Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering, with young investigator awards from the International Congress of Antiviral Research, the American Society for Microbiology, the MRC Centre for Virus Research in the United Kingdom, and the California Life Sciences Pantheon Award for Academia and Marion Spencer Fay Award. She has been awarded a Fulbright Global Scholar fellowship from the United States Department of State and a Mercator Fellowship from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, to develop international collaborations using cryoelectron microscopy to further global health. Tickets for the gala support Mainly Mozart’s artistic and educational programs, including the Mainly Mozart Youth Orchestra, the All-Star Orchestra Festival and Mainly Mozart’s music education initiatives and community outreach programs, including its long-term partnership with Art of Autism. Mainly Mozart® on Facebook / Instagram

The 18th annual University Heights Arts Open and the UHCDC’s Taste of University Heights combine events again this year. Stroll through the quaint neighborhood sampling delicacies from University Heights diverse restaurants and then enjoy a free self guided tour of the arts. Visit the twenty local restaurants and sip stops participating this year! Free shuttle tour of artist studios/venues in the area. UH Arts Open is a FREE event/ Taste of UH is ticketed Taste of UH tickets: $35 in advance/$40 event day University Heights Community Association (UHCA) on Facebook / Instagram

The 18th annual University Heights Arts Open and the UHCDC’s Taste of University Heights combine events again this year. Stroll through the quaint neighborhood sampling delicacies from University Heights diverse restaurants and then enjoy a free self guided tour of the arts. Free shuttle tour of artist studios/venues in the area. UH Arts Open is a FREE event / Taste of UH is ticketed University Heights Arts Open on Facebook / Instagram

A night of song and improv comedy! Two guest singers perform for you and then our improv performers use their songs to inspire improvised scenes. Family Friendly! Mockingbird Improv on Facebook / Instagram

Spooky and creepy, mysterious and funny- join us for "Séance"...you'll never look at the spirit world the same! Mockingbird Improv on Facebook / Instagram

Join us for an evening of creativity and relaxation! We’ll begin with a grounding sound bath session to melt away stress and open your senses, followed by a hands-on floral arrangement workshop where you’ll design your own take-home bouquet. All materials and light refreshments are provided. Please bring a yoga mat, blanket, pillow, or anything that helps you feel cozy and supported. Savvy Staci on TikTok / Instagram

U.S. regulators on Monday gave the green light to a pill version of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, the first daily oral medication to treat obesity.

Fall Craft Camp for Preschoolers! In this Cooking & Craft Camp, preschoolers will explore craft making and corn! On the first day of this seasonal camp, kids will be practicing and honing their fine motor skills while learning to make corn cob husk boats! On the second day, kids will explore the traditional process of making masa from corn and then making handmade tortillas, which we’ll turn into a small taco party! Parents and families of the camper are invited to eat with us during the last half hour on the last day (11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.)! • Military, first responders and sibling discounts. • Scholarships available. • If this class is full, join the Interest List to be notified. San Diego Craft Collective on Facebook / Instagram