San Diego Symphony Announces its 2024 Conrad Prebys Season at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

San Diego, CA (March 3, 2024) - The San Diego Symphony is happy to share the announcement of its 2024 Conrad Prebys Summer Season at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. Developed, operated and programmed by the San Diego Symphony, The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park will celebrate its fourth summer on the San Diego Bay with special performances that can only be experienced in San Diego this summer, and an all-star lineup. Concerts on this year’s season will include performances with the San Diego Symphony and Music Director Rafael Payare, artists like John Legend and Jason Mraz, jazz virtuosos like San Diego’s own Gilbert Castellanos, some of the world’s greatest Broadway talent including Audra McDonald, rock tributes and more. The season begins officially on June 28th, 2024 and runs through theF beginning of October.  

 

“As we begin our fourth summer season at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, I reflect back on the promises we made at its opening,” said San Diego Symphony CEO Martha Gilmer. “Chief among these is that The Rady Shell would become a place where all of San Diego, including our visitors, would feel that they belonged.  It is so gratifying to meet people who reflect on their experiences at The Rady Shell and at Jacobs Park – whether it is a film with orchestra, the San Diego Symphony performing Beethoven, a Saturday morning yoga class, or a collaboration with La Jolla Playhouse and their WOW festival. We celebrate the many ways we can activate and program our beautiful venue, bringing people together for memory making experiences.  In 2024 we hope that even more people will experience the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park – for the first time or the 50th time.  We welcome you all and please know that The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park belongs to each of you!”

 

Kicking off its fourth season at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra will return for its annual opening night concert on June 28th, 2024. Guest Conductor Gemma New makes her Rady Shell debut in an inspiring program featuring Rimsky-Korsakov's Capriccio Espagnole, Copland’s timeless Rodeo, and John Adam’s Short Ride in a Fast Machine to start the season in spectacular fashion. Pianist Olga Kern – the only female artist to claim the renowned gold medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in the past 50 years – joins the San Diego Symphony Orchestra on the program to perform Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3.

 

Premieres and Exclusive Collaborations

 

This summer, San Diego audiences will have the opportunity to experience “only in San Diego” events, two WORLD PREMIERES, and other concerts for which San Diego is one of a few cities nationally to experience these combinations of artistic collaboration. On July 3, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra will perform the WORLD PREMIERE and only performance this summer of An Evening with Marc Shaiman and his Music... Sleepless in Seattle, Sister Act Beaches, SMASH, Hairspray and more. The Tony, Emmy and GRAMMY® Award-winning writer will host the performance, conducted by Steven Reineke, before heading to New York to open the TV-hit-turned-musical SMASH on Broadway.  His extensive film, TV and Broadway career spans more than 100 projects, including Saturday Night Live, Marvel’s Hawkeye, City Slickers, Misery, When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men, The First Wives Club, South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut, and many more. On July 5, reggae icon Ziggy Marley will perform his only concert with orchestra this summer, as the San Diego Symphony Orchestra will join the 8-time GRAMMY® Award winner and daytime Emmy Award winner in performing songs and hits from throughout his career. GRAMMY® Award winner Jason Mraz and the Superband return to The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, ending his 24-city The Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride tour in San Diego with one of only a handful of orchestra dates this summer, joining forces with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, August 11, conducted by Sean O’Loughlin. And Emmy®, GRAMMY®, Oscar® and Tony® (EGOT) award-winning artist John Legend returns to The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park on Thursday, August 15, following his sold-out concert at the venue last year. This year’s concert will feature the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, one of only three concerts Legend is performing with orchestra this summer, conducted by Anthony Parnther.

 

Pop, Rock, and R&B Sensations  

 

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park will host a dazzling array of talent in the 2024 Rady Shell summer season, including some who will grace its Una Davis Family Stage for the first time ever.  On July 4th, the Commodores will perform a selection of their top hits – backed by San Diego’s Big Bay Boom celebration and night of patriotic fun; Kool & the Gang with Sister Sledge will bring audiences a performance of their timeless hits (June 21); In July, and for the first time on The Rady Shell stage, Harry Connick, Jr. joins the Rady Shell season for a night of timeless melodies (July 6) and Jewel and Melissa Etheridge will bring their national tour to San Diego (July 23); on August 4, Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys, and Son Rompe Pera present a night of kaleidoscopic songs, melodies, and heritage; Gipsy Kings (August 18) Gary Clark Jr. (August 24), and The Beach Boys  (September 1) make their triumphant return to the venue; similarly, Trombone Shorty is back to perform for another season, this time with Orleans Avenue and Big Boi (September 6); and The Avett Brothers appear for the first time at The Rady Shell on October 6.

 

Classical Virtuosi and Musical Theater Mavens in Performance with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra 

 

Our 2024 Rady Shell summer season begins, officially, with its annual classical opening night 
performance on June 28 featuring guest conductor Gemma New who will make her Rady Shell debut alongside pianist Olga Kern; Audra McDonald returns to perform with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra in a night of her top classics – also marking her first performance at the bayside venue (June 30); Conductor Nicolas Ellis joins the orchestra for his first Rady Shell at Jacobs Park performance, on its annual Beethoven by the Bay concert evening (July 12). Violinist Geneva Lewis joins Ellis in making her Rady Shell and San Diego Symphony Orchestra debut performing Beethoven’s Violin Concerto; In August, musicals in concert return to The Rady Shell, with a performance of the cult-classic RENT in Concert (August 2) including a stellar cast and conductor Sean O’Loughlin, and Sondheim Tonight! A Celebration of Genius (August 23) which features conductor Rob Fisher and a roster of Broadway and musical talents. Rounding out the classical programming in the 2024 summer season is the San Diego Symphony Orchestra’s annual Tchaikovsky Spectacular, with Music Director Rafael Payare (August 30) featuring a bayside pyrotechnic display to accompany Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.   

 

“As we begin to prepare for our 2024 Rady Shell summer season,” said Music Director Rafael Payare, “I am excited for the great promise and excitement this year will bring. The Rady Shell has become a beloved venue with audiences in Southern California and beyond, and I'm very honored to be a part of yet another wonderful year of music-making on the San Diego Bay, with our world-class orchestra, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.”

 

Movies in Concert

 

This year’s selection of films-in-concert provides a perfect opportunity for families and friends to gather for a unique outdoor experience. Beginning on June 29, The San Diego Symphony Orchestra joins forces with conductor David Newman for The Music of John Williams, a musical journey through some of the most famous film scores of all time. Field of Dreams in Concert will be given its WORLD PREMIERE in San Diego on July 19, 35 years after the films debut in theaters. The classic film about “America’s National Pastime,” starring Kevin Costner, will have its score played live by the San Diego Symphony Orchestra while the film is shown on the screens of The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, conducted by Nicholas Buc. On July 20, Disney in Concert: The Sound of Magic features a newly imagined concert that takes you on a magic carpet ride through the most memorable song, score and movie moments of The Walt Disney Company, including “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Moana,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Aladdin,” “The Jungle Book,” “Frozen,” “The Lion King,” “Fantasia,” “Encanto,” “Beauty and the Beast” and more. And on August 9 and 10, Stars Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert comes to The Rady Shell Stage. The Empire prepares to crush the Rebellion with a more powerful Death Star. The Rebel fleet counters with a massive attack on the space station. Luke Skywalker confronts Darth Vader in a final climactic duel.

 

Food & Beverage

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park’s culinary program, The Shell Provisions, offers an impressive range of local specialties in partnership with local San Diego concepts, including, URBAN KITCHEN Group offering burgers, poke and more, Biga Pizza, Lola55 Tacos, Cali Cream Homemade Ice Cream, Kitchens for Good, soups and sandwiches, Wicked Popcorn and other specialties as well as vegan and gluten free selections. Table service is available in the Marina section by Celebrity Chef Richard Blais offering pre-order dinners and beverage service through the website. Prebys Plaza Dining Pavilions offer dining tables, allowing concertgoers to enjoy some of the best tastes San Diego has to offer, while taking in the beautiful sights and sounds of the city.

 

Accessible Spaces and Free Community Events at The Rady Shell

 

For 80% of the year, the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park is a public park. The San Diego Symphony programs a wide range of free community activities including family-friendly festivals like Picnic at the Park or the California Festival Family & Community Day, wellness events like monthly yoga classes and the annual Pride Yoga and Dance Party in partnership with FIT Athletic, and rehearsals that are free and open to the public including enhanced programming for schools in the Linda & Shearn Platt Open Rehearsal program. In addition to free public park programming, the San Diego Symphony provides free tickets through our Music Connects program to 501c3 nonprofits and government organizations serving our local community. Similarly, the San Diego Symphony is proud to offer a discount ticket program for all seniors and active military with ID. Senior and military discounts apply in the Parkside and Bridgeview sections only at The Rady Shell.  For more information on both of these accessibility initiatives, please visit our website at www.TheShell.org

 

Pre-Summer Season at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

 

Date | Concert Title | Time
*Concerts that will NOT feature the San Diego Symphony Orchestra

 

April 14, 2024 | Peter Frampton Never Ever Say Never Tour | 7:30 PM*

• (The Rady Shell Debut)

 

May 3, 2024 | Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark in Concert | 7:30 PM

• Conductor, John Beal

 

May 6, 2024 | Roger Daltrey with special guest KT Tunstall | 7:30 PM*

• Roger Daltrey: (The Rady Shell Debut)
• KT Tunstall: (The Rady Shell Debut)

 

May 19, 2024 | Derek Hough – A Symphony of Dance 7:30 PM*

• (The Rady Shell Debut)

 

June 21, 2024 | Kool & the Gang with special guests Sister Sledge and DJ Prince Hakim| 7:00 PM*

• Sister Sledge: (The Rady Shell Debut)

 

 

Rady Shell Conrad Prebys 2024 Summer Season Lineup

 

Date | Concert Title | Time
*Concerts that will NOT feature the San Diego Symphony Orchestra

 

June 28, 2024 | Summer 2024 Opening Night with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra | 7:30 PM

• Conductor: Gemma New (The Rady Shell Debut)
• Soloist: Olga Kern, piano (The Rady Shell Debut)
  
  ADAMS Short Ride in Fast Machine
  RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 3
  COPLAND Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo
  RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Capriccio espagnol

 

June 29, 2024 | The Music of John Williams | 7:30 PM

• Conductor: David Newman

 

June 30, 2024 | An Evening with Audra McDonald | 7:30 PM

• (The Rady Shell Debut)
• Conductor: Andy Einhorn (The Rady Shell and SDSO Debuts)
• Soloist: Jeremy Ajani Jordan, piano (The Rady Shell and SDSO Debuts)
• Soloist: Gene Lewin, drums (The Rady Shell and SDSO Debuts)
• Soloist: Mark Vanderpoel, bass (The Rady Shell and SDSO Debuts)

 

July 3, 2024 | An Evening with Marc Shaiman and his Music: Sleepless in Seattle, Hairspray, Beaches, Sister Act, Smash and more! | 7:30 PM  (The Rady Shell and SDSO Debut, World Premiere)

• Conductor: Steven Reineke

 

July 4, 2024 | 4^th of July with The Commodores | 7:30 PM*

 

July 5, 2024 | Ziggy Marley with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra | 7:30 PM

• (Debut with SDSO)

 

July 6, 2024 | Harry Connick, Jr. | 7:30 PM*

• (The Rady Shell debut)

 

July 7, 2024 | Icons of Song: The Music of Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder | 7:30 PM

• Conductor: Ted Sperling

 

July 12, 2024 | Beethoven by the Bay | 7:30 PM

• Conductor: Nicolas Ellis (The Rady Shell and SDSO Debut)
• Soloist: Geneva Lewis, violin (The Rady Shell and SDSO Debut)

 

All-BEETHOVEN Program

Overture to Creatures of Prometheus

Violin Concerto

Symphony No. 5

 

July 19, 2024 | Field of Dreams in Concert | 7:30 PM (World Premiere)

• Conductor: Nicholas Buc

 

July 20, 2024 | Disney in Concert: The Sound of Magic | 7:30 PM

• Conductor: Nicholas Buc

 

July 23, 2024 | Jewel and Melissa Etheridge | 7:30 PM*

• (The Rady Shell Debut)

 

August 2, 2024 | RENT in Concert | 7:30 PM

• Conductor: Sean O’Loughlin

 

August 4, 2024 | Los Lobos & Los Lonely Boys: The Brotherhood Tour - with special guests Son Rompe Pera | 7:00 PM*

• (The Rady Shell Debut)

 

August 9, 2024 | Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert| 7:30 PM

• Conductor: Norman Huynh

 

August 10, 2024 | Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert| | 7:30 PM

• Conductor: Norman Huynh

 

August 11, 2024 | Jason Mraz and The Superband: The Mystical Magical Rhythmical Radical Ride with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra| 7:30 PM

• Conductor: Sean O’Loughlin

 

August 15, 2024 | John Legend: A Night of Songs and Stories with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra | 7:30 PM

• (SDSO Debut)
• Conductor: Anthony Parnther (The Rady Shell and SDSO Debuts)

 

August 16, 2024 | Totally ‘80s with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra | 7:30 PM

• Conductor: Stuart Chafetz
• Soloist: Aaron Finley, vocalist
• Soloist: Nicole Parker, vocalist (The Rady Shell and SDSO Debuts)

 

August 17 2024 | Miles Davis: Kind of Blue*

• Soloist, Gilbert Castellanos, trumpet
• Soloist, Donald Vega, piano (The Rady Shell Debut)
• Soloist, Joel Frahm, tenor saxophone
• Soloist, James Mahone, alto saxophone (The Rady Shell Debut)
• Soloist, Danton Boller, Bass
• Soloist, Willie Jones III, Drums
• Young Lions Jazz Conservatory

 

 

 August 18, 2024 | Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes | 7:30 PM*

 

August 23, 2024 | Sondheim Tonight! A Celebration of Genius | 7:30 PM

• Conductor: Rob Fisher
• Soloist: Emily Skinner, vocalist
• Soloist: Jason Danieley, vocalist (The Rady Shell Debut)
• Additional vocalists TBA
• Director: Gary Griffin

 

August 24, 2024 | Gary Clark Jr. | 7:00 PM *

 

August 25, 2024 | Pink Martini featuring China Forbes: 30th Anniversary Tour | 7:30 PM

• Conductor: Evan Roider (The Rady Shell Debut and Debut with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra)

 

August 30, 2024 | Tchaikovsky Spectacular | 7:30 PM

• Conductor: Rafael Payare
• Soloist: Blake Pouliot, violin (The Rady Shell and SDSO Debut)

 

Program to include:

TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto

TCHAIKOVSKY 1812 Overture

 

August 31, 2024 | Classic Albums Live Performs The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

| 7:30 PM*

• Conductor: Christopher Dragon

 

September 1, 2024 |The Beach Boys | 7:30 PM*

 

September 6, 2024 | Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue | 7:00PM*

 

September 21, 2024 | Classic Albums Live Performs Fleetwood Mac's Rumours | 7:30 PM*

 

October 6, 2024 | The Avett Brothers |7:30 PM*

• (The Rady Shell Debut)

 

 

Sponsors

San Diego Symphony acknowledges its sponsors for the Conrad Prebys 2023 Summer season including Sycuan Casino, Rady Children’s Hospital, Mission Federal Credit Union, Hilton San Diego Bayfront, Pepsi, Cutwater Spirits, US Bank, University of San Diego, and The San Diego Union-Tribune as the official media sponsor, UCSD, PNC Bank, Scripps Research Institute, Alive Solar & Roofing, One Paseo, and Rancho La Puerta.

 

ABOUT THE RADY SHELL

The centerpiece of the 3.7-acre public Jacobs Park developed and managed by the San Diego Symphony on the city’s scenic Embarcadero, The Rady Shell is the first permanent outdoor venue in the San Diego Symphony’s century-long history, designed to host more than 100 concerts and events year-round. The venue has been developed in partnership with the Unified Port of San Diego with 96% of the $85 million cost raised privately by the Symphony. As innovative in design as it is spectacular in setting, The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park offers 360 degrees of year-round music, sky and sea, and is an unprecedented resource for the community. The Symphony’s expanded schedule of diverse outdoor concerts includes classical concerts and an exciting roster of commissioned works and premieres programmed by San Diego Symphony Music Director Rafael Payare as well as performances by international touring artists and free programs. The venue will be available year-round for non-profit community groups, schools and individuals. Jacobs Park, owned and managed by the Symphony, surrounds the performance space with walkways, dining pavilions and recreational facilities in the heart of the Embarcadero and is accessible to the public for free on most days of the year. For more information, visit www.theshell.org.

 

 

Media Contacts

Kristen Turner | Director of Communications, Content, and Digital Strategies kturner@sandiegosymphony.org | 713.817.3219

 

John Velasco | Communications Manager

Jvelasco@sandiegosymphony.org | 858.603.1813