Mount Wilson Institute

The acoustics in the historical 100-inch telescope dome are exceptional and the perfect place to
experience live music. Besides the sound quality watching the dome slit open to reveal the sky and
realizing the top portion of the building is turning so smoothly it can barely be felt is a unique experience.
The captivating astronomical setting and the finest of performances come together to create an event
worthy of our founders’ original vision. The Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome take place on the
first Sunday of every month, May through October. The primarily local musicians perform for one hour
twice. There are usually 4 performers though at times there can be 5. Since the first concert in 2017 the
Artistic Director and cellist, Cecilia Tsan, has been selecting the chamber music or jazz programs and
arranging for the participation of the professional musicians while occasionally performing herself.
Between the two concerts guests are invited to meet the artists at a wine and cheese reception. The
entire 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic. To resume the concert series next season we
intend to add the ability to broadcast them live or recorded. This initiative will have an added benefit in
that it will allow us to reach a much wider and more diverse audience.