Mount Wilson Observatory “Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome” Presents “Celebrating Ben Powell”

For Immediate Release:

Mount Wilson Observatory Presents
“Celebrating Ben Powell”
The Fifth Offering in MWO’s 8th Season of
Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome
Held Inside the Historic Dome of the 100-Inch Telescope
Sunday, August 17, 2025
Performances at 3:00pm and 5:00pm

LOS ANGELES, CA – July 30, 2025 – Mount Wilson Observatory (MWO)—Southern California’s esteemed home to several of the most groundbreaking astronomical discoveries in history—is pleased to present the fifth Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome of its 2025 season inside the magnificent vaulted dome of MWO’s historic 100-inch telescope. On Sunday, August 17, 2025, the audience is invited to “Celebrating Ben Powell,” a performance featuring Roch Lockyer (guitar & vocals), Evan Price (violin), Zach Dellinger (viola), Brian Netzley (bass), and Cécilia Tsan (cello). The ensemble will perform music from various genres, honoring the life of Ben Powell.

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 3:00pm and again at 5:00pm. There will be an artist reception at 4:00pm 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 www.mtwilson.edu/events/concert081725. For more on the entire Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome series, please visit www.mtwilson.edu/concerts.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The August 17 event is dedicated to the late Ben Powell, violinist extraordinaire who passed away far too soon. Ben opened the Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome series in 2017 at its inaugural concert.

As Ben’s friends, the musicians will perform music from various genres, gypsy jazz, his favorite, classical, and more, honoring his exceptional versatility on the violin and his beautiful soul. The repertoire will be announced from the stage by Roch Lockyer, Ben’s closest friend who was with him during his last weeks on planet Earth.

ABOUT BEN POWELL
Ben Powell was one of the most versatile violinists of his generation. British born, he lived in Los Angeles, then New Orleans, after residencies in Boston, Paris and New York. He was an alumnus of Berklee College of Music where he majored in composition and performance.

Upon hearing the playing of Stephane Grappelli in his early teens, his journey into string improvisation was born. Powell collaborated on his own recording projects with renowned musicians such as vibraphonist Gary Burton, cellist Lynn Harrell, and percussionist Peter Erskine.

Fusing the improvising worlds with his classical pedagogy, Powell was truly a musician transcending boundaries, not only by his own playing but by bringing together such varied musical company to join him in his creative ventures. In March 2016, he released The LA Sessions. Gathering 26 of L.A.’s finest musicians, Powell compiled an album merging music from the worlds of bebop, American folk, classical, French musette, film, Gypsy jazz, fusion, and traditional jazz.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Roch Lockyer (guitar)
In a short time, Roch Lockyer has forged a musical pedigree that begets the question as to why he's not a household name in the guitar world. Lockyer's serious studies began with lessons from jazz guitar legend Jimmy Bruno. He has recorded and played with modern jazz masters such as trumpet luminary and current Grammy nominee Ron Miles and ECM artist Art Lande (Jan Garbarek, Miroslav Vitous). His first album, NonDirectional in 2010, featured all original material and was critically acclaimed. Roch has played and performed in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Lockyer was inspired by his close friendship & mentorship with the legendary French Gypsy band Les Doigts de L'Homme. The tribute album included Ben Powell on violin ("The Grappelli of this generation" NPR), and L.A. session ace Rob Hardt on clarinet (Poncho Sanchez, etc).  

Evan Price (violin)
Evan Price is one of the world's most confident voices in extra-classical string playing. A native of Detroit, MI, his musical background includes square dance bands to string quartets, from jamming with blues bands to busking in Greektown, with a deep love of chamber music in all forms.

Price is a ten-year veteran of the world-renowned Turtle Island Quartet. They gave over five hundred performances and had the opportunity to collaborate with many musical luminaries. Since 1998, Price has been proud to call himself a member of The Hot Club of San Francisco. During his tenure, the group has released seven albums which feature Price on violin. In 2016, he premiered his Concerto for Jazz Violin and Orchestra with the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra and released his debut solo album, Dialogues, in 2017 on Azica Records.

Zach Dellinger (viola)
Recipient of the Yuri Bashmet President's Prize at the 2013 Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition, Zach Dellinger is redefining what it means to be a violist in the 21st century. His activities as a musician range from recording for television and film, speaking and performing at TED X San Diego, performing as chamber musician and soloist throughout the US, and conducting the award winning Los Angeles Children’s Chamber Orchestra at Carnegie Hall.

Dellinger believes strongly in the healing power of classical music and has committed himself to bringing the world's most exciting musicians together through the non-profit Street Symphony to perform for under-served communities on Skid Row, in the L.A. County Jail, and for Veterans suffering from PTSD.

Brian Netzley (bass)
Brian Netzley has spent the last decade as one of the most in-demand Gypsy jazz bassists working in the United States. He made a name for himself while playing with the groundbreaking Gonzalo Bergara Quartet and went on to form the pop/jazz quintet The Black Market Trust.

Cécilia Tsan (cello / artistic director)
Praised by the Los Angeles Times for her "uncompromising musical character and towering technique,” French-born cellist Cécilia Tsan graduated from the Paris Conservatory summa cum laude and is a prizewinner at the Barcelona, Florence, and Paris International Competitions.

An international soloist and chamber musician, she has recorded several albums and hundreds of movie soundtracks in Hollywood. She serves as Principal Cello with the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Master Chorale Orchestra. She is also the Artistic Director of the music series Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome at Mount Wilson Observatory.

Recent performances include John Williams’ Memoirs of a Geisha, Dvorák and Elgar Cello Concertos, and the Brahms Double Concerto. Cécilia has served as Principal Cello for the Oscars, the Emmys, the Grammys, American Idol, and Dancing with the Stars. In April 2019, she was invited by the LA Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Peter Sellars to be the narrator for Stravinsky’s Perséphone at Disney Hall.

In August 2024, Warner Classics released a 2-CD set dedicated to the music of John Williams, John Williams Reimagined, featuring Sara Andon (flute), Cécilia Tsan (cello), and Simone Pedroni (piano), produced by Robert Townson. A vast array of Williams' scores is arranged for flute, cello, and piano by Pedroni. The release was preceded and followed by international concert tours featuring the trio.

THE REMAINING CONCERTS IN THE 2024 SEASON:
August 31 - www.mtwilson.edu/events/concert083125
Leelou and Friends
Leelou (vocals & cello), Tony Bredelet (vocals & guitar), and Arnaud Dunoyer (keyboard). Leelou, the young vocalist and cellist who was in the finals of The Voice in 2017 at age 11 and is now touring as Nefertari in the musical The 10 Commandments in Europe. A recent graduate of Pau Conservatory (Conservatoire Pau Béarn Pyrénées), she'll perform with friends, offering a variety of songs featuring the various genres that she loves.

September 21 - www.mtwilson.edu/events/concert092125
New Hollywood String Quartet
Tereza Stanislav & Rafael Rishik (violins), Robert Brophy (viola), Andrew Shulman (cellos) guest appearance by Cécilia Tsan (cello.) Los Angeles Times Classical Music Critic Mark Swed wrote: “The New Hollywood String Quartet takes its inspiration from the famed Hollywood String Quartet, composed of studio musicians in the 1940s and ’50s. It had the reputation as America’s finest string quartet for its superbly silky sound and capacity for vivid drama…. That’s still true with the New Hollywood, formed in 2001, four decades after the original Hollywood Quartet disbanded.” This concert will offer an all-Schubert program: the “Quartettsatz,” followed by the "String Quintet, D956," with cellist Cécilia Tsan joining.

October 5 - www.mtwilson.edu/events/concert100525
Musical Friends
Roger Wilkie (violin), Jonah Sirota (viola), Cécilia Tsan (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.

October 19 - www.mtwilson.edu/events/concert101925
Mariachi Lindas Mexicanas
Carte Blanche to Los Angeles’ all-female Mariachi Band

ABOUT MOUNT WILSON OBSERVATORY
Since its founding in 1904 by astronomer and visionary George Ellery Hale, the research conducted at Mount Wilson Observatory has revolutionized our understanding of the Universe. Perched on top of Mount Wilson, a 5,710-foot peak in the San Gabriel Mountains near Pasadena, California, the Observatory boasts a rich history and significant contributions to science and the heritage of Los Angeles. The Observatory’s 100-inch Telescope—the world's largest telescope from 1917 to 1949—forever changed our understanding of the scale and nature of our Universe and deeply expanded human knowledge. This world-heritage class instrument, used by many of the greatest astronomers of the Twentieth Century, launched a revolution in astronomy that continues through today.

Mount Wilson Institute has independently operated and maintained the Mount Wilson Observatory since 1989 under a long-term agreement with the Carnegie Institution of Washington. The Observatory and grounds are open to the public to visit, and during the spring and summer months the Institute produces programs including observing sessions through the historic telescopes (the largest on the planet made available to the public), lectures, concerts, art exhibits, educational programs, and more. Many of these cultural offerings are presented inside the singular vaulted dome of the 100-inch Telescope.

All proceeds from ticketed events go to support Mount Wilson Institute in its mission to preserve, protect, and promote the Observatory and its scientific accomplishments.

Complete information on all the scientific, educational, and cultural activities at Mount Wilson Observatory can be found on their website www.mtwilson.edu.

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 10:00am daily and closes at 5:00pm 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 Café 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 dollar annual pass may be purchased at the Cosmic Cafe on weekends between 10:00am and 5:00pm. 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.

LINKS:

• Mount Wilson Observatory - www.mtwilson.edu
• Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome - www.mtwilson.edu/concerts
• August 17 Tickets - www.mtwilson.edu/events/concert081725
• MWO Facebook - www.facebook.com/WilsonObs
• MWO Twitter - https://twitter.com/MtWilsonObs 
• MWO Instagram - www.instagram.com/mtwilsonobservatory
• MWO Images including artist and concert photos - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ayaN3JNIKNbcPYqnxp_ILe9HHvENJGSa?usp=sharing

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For more information, photos, interviews, or press passes—about any of MWO's movie, concert, or lecture series—please contact Green Galactic’s Lynn Tejada at lynn@greengalactic.com or 213-840-1201.

For Mount Wilson Observatory, please contact Sarah Emery Bunn at semerybunn@mtwilson.edu or 626-214-8030.