There will be something different when Mainly Mozart presents this year’s 38th edition of its increasingly popular All-Star Orchestra Festival from June 17 to June 27 at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall in La Jolla and UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater in La Jolla.
The six chamber-music concerts, which are performed by cream-of-the-crop principal players and concertmasters from top orchestras across North America, will still be led by Michael Francis, who has been Mainly Mozart’s music director since 2014.
Francis will also continue to provide intriguing information about each of the carefully curated works.
Mainly Mozart Music Director Michael Francis leads an All-Star Orchestra Festival concert at the Epstein Family Amphitheater at UC San Diego in La Jolla (J. Kat Photo)
The “something different” is more a behind-the-scenes development.
“We are feeling buzzy because Mainly Mozart now has a concertmaster — for the first time in eight years!” said Mark Laturno, director of marketing for the chamber-music nonprofit.
But wait a minute. Isn’t the All-Star Orchestra made up mostly of concertmasters? Couldn’t any of those top violinists do the job?
“We’ve been rotating concertmasters each year from the wealth that we have in the orchestra,” explained Nancy Laturno, Mainly Mozart’s founding chief executive officer and artistic director.
“Showcasing them was exciting. But the concertmaster is so important in providing the link between the orchestra and the music director and the link between the orchestra and administration, so we wanted stability in that role.”
Mainly Mozart Music Director Michael Francis leads an All-Star Orchestra Festival concert at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall in La Jolla in 2024. (J. Kat Photo)
Without further ado, welcome David Kim, Philadelphia Orchestra concertmaster since 1999, to Mainly Mozart’s permanent role of concertmaster.
An author and former concertmaster of PBS TV’s Emmy Award-winning All-Star Orchestra, Kim presents masterclasses around the world. He was the soloist with his orchestra in Philadelphia when San Diego Symphony Music and Artistic Director Rafael Payare was guest conductor earlier this month.
During the pandemic shutdown, Kim began a close working relationship with Mainly Mozart and its music director, Michael Francis.
“David commands the respect of everybody,” said Francis, speaking from his Florida home. “In an orchestra full of concertmasters and principals, that is not easy to do.
“We’re delighted that, for the first time since 2018, we have a permanent concertmaster of concertmasters. I suppose that’s how we can say it.”
No matter the title, Kim is the perfect choice, Nancy Laturno enthused.
“With all David’s knowledge, talent, connections and leadership qualities,” she said. “This is a real coup for our organization.”
Mainly Mozart Music Director Michael Francis leads an All-Star Orchestra Festival concert at the Epstein Family Amphitheater at UC San Diego in La Jolla (Ken Jacques)
`The power you feel’
Another coup for Mainly Mozart came in May 2025 when it was chosen by La Jolla Music Society to become one of four resident companies at the society’s Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center. These inaugural three-year partnerships provide Mainly Mozart, Bach Collegium, Art of Elan and Camarada with scheduling advantages to book their performances, marketing support, increased visibility and a fixed discounted rental rate.
In the past, all companies had rented the society’s state-of-the-art Baker-Baum Concert Hall and the JAI, its smaller sibling venue across the courtyard at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center.
“La Jolla Music Society has been generous and visionary,” Nancy Laturno said. “They understand a theater’s role as a community resource and their concert hall stage is ideal for a chamber orchestra. We hope to continue taking better advantage of the audio-visual capabilities they have.
“As we settle into our new home, we have huge plans for 2027. We’re very happy.”
With these new resources, Mainly Mozart is bullish about this year’s upcoming festival. Last year’s was its second-highest grossing festival yet and the most profitable ever.
“Attendance was terrific,” Mark Laturno said. “We were sold out all but one night, which was very close to a sellout. It was at the Epstein and it was a fun way to conclude. Last year was highly successful for us.”
After several venue changes through the years, Mainly Mozart now calls La Jolla home. This year, the Conrad will host five concerts, with a performance at the Epstein closing the festival.
“What’s so exciting about listening to the festival orchestra in the Baker-Baum is the power you feel,” said Francis, the music director of the Florida Orchestra in Tampa Bay. “It has the impact the composers wanted. When you hear the music within this small hall with wonderful acoustics, it’s closer to how these symphonies were heard when first performed.”
Among the guest artists in June will be pianist Anne Marie McDermott, guitarist Mak Grgic, cellist Robert DeMaine and violinist James Ehnes.
Although the All-Star Orchestra Festival this year doesn’t have an official theme, Francis said he sprinkled in a few pieces inspired by revolution.
“A small thing happened in this country 250 years ago towards the British,” the London-area born conductor said wryly. “I wanted to reflect that in this music a little.”
At the Epstein on the festival’s last night, the orchestra will play Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, which was influenced by the fervor of the French Revolution.
Artwork and preludes
It’s not just the festival concerts that draw people into Mainly Mozart’s sphere.
Last year, Mainly Mozart’s Artist-in-Residence, Joel Anderson, created art based on the eight featured composers. His colorful work was displayed prominently on everything from T-shirts and posters to cocktail napkins. His new artwork will be showcased at this year’s festival and at other Mainly Mozart concerts throughout the year.
Mainly Mozart began collaborating with Anderson, who has autism and synesthesia, through the organization’s partnership with another nonprofit, The Art of Autism. Anderson’s work has been shown internationally.
Another well-received element from last year to be repeated in June is the pre-concert preludes, which are led by Mainly Mozart’s artistic partner, pianist Anton Nel. A professor at University of Texas at Austin, Nel performed at the very first Mainly Mozart concert in 1989.
The preludes, which are open to ticket holders and focus entirely on the music of Mozart, take place in the JAI and feature Nel’s spoken observations and piano playing.
The Laturnos have launched a regular “Monthly Mondays” meetup for Mainly Mozart attendees to get to know each other. Sometimes the location is a bar, other times at restaurants that have participated in Mainly Mozart’s fundraising galas.
“We’re deepening relationships with our audiences,” Mark Laturno said. “It’s a way to get to know other San Diegans who share a passion of yours, and that’s a great place to kick off a friendship.”
Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival 2026 Schedule
When: All concerts begin at 7 p.m. except Sunday, June 21, which begins at 3 p.m. Each performance lasts 75-90 minutes and have a 15-minute intermission.
Where: The Baker-Baum Concert Hall, Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla; Epstein Family Amphitheater at UC San Diego, 9480 Innovation Lane, La Jolla
Wednesday, June 17: Mozart’s Ballet Music from Idomeneo, K. 367, Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25 “Classical,” Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 with soloist Anne Marie McDermott. Baker-Baum Concert Hall
Saturday, June 20: Copland’s Appalachian Spring (original 13-instrument version), Mozart’s Bardengesang auf Gibraltar (O Calpe!”), K 386d, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 55 “Eroica.” Baker-Baum Concert Hall
Sunday, June 21: Márquez’ Danzón No. 4, Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez featuring soloist Mak Grgic; Mozart’s Contradance in C, K. 535 “La bataille” (The Siege of Belgrade), Mozart’s Five Contradances, K. 609 (selections), Mozart’s Rondo “Alla turca” (Turkish March) from Piano Sonata No. 11 in A, K. 331; and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90 “Italian.” Baker-Baum Concert Hall
Tuesday, June 23: Lully’s Le Bourgeois gentilhomme (selections), Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat, K. 271 “Jenamy” with soloist Anton Nel, Strauss’ Le Bourgeois gentilhomme Suite, Op. 60. Baker-Baum Concert Hall
Thursday, June 25: Pärt’s Cantus in memoriam of Benjamin Britten, Schumann’s Violin Concerto in D minor with soloist James Ehnes, and Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K. 551 “Jupiter.” Baker-Baum Concert Hall
Saturday, June 27: Mozart’s Fantasia Fugato (arr. von Seyfried), Brahms’ Concerto for Violin & Cello in A minor, Op. 102 “Double Concerto” featuring James Ehnes and Robert DeMaine, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67. Epstein Family Amphitheatre
Tickets: Single tickets for Baker-Baum Concert Hall performances range from $68 to $155. Single tickets for the closing night performance at UCSD’s Epstein Family Amphitheater range from $25 to $250. Subscription packages are also available.
Info: 619-239-0100
Online: mainlymozart.org