Mount Wilson Observatory “Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome” presents “Leelou and Friends”

For Immediate Release:   August 8, 2025

Mount Wilson Observatory Presents
Leelou and Friends
The Sixth Offering in its 8th Season of
Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome
Held Inside the Historic Dome of the 100-Inch Telescope
Sunday, August 31, 2025
Performances at 3:00pm and 5:00pm

LOS ANGELES, CA – August 21, 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 sixth 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 31, 2025, the audience is invited to experience Leelou and Friends, featuring singer and cellist Leelou, joined by her close friends and collaborators— Arnaud Dunoyer (keyboard) and Liam Hayden (bass)—for an eclectic program reflecting her wide-ranging musical passions.

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/concert083125. For more on the entire Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome series, please visit www.mtwilson.edu/concerts.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Leelou and Friends will perform a dynamic set of songs—both in English and French—featuring music by Norah Jones, Adele, Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys, Céline Dion, Etta James, Bruno Mars, Édith Piaf, and more. Expect surprise guest appearances and a few unexpected musical genres revealed in the moment.

ABOUT THE ARTIST
Leelou (vocals and cello)
Born in Los Angeles into a family of musicians, Leelou has been immersed in music from the very beginning. She began playing the cello at the age of 4, naturally drawn to the instrument through her rich artistic environment and deep passion for performance. At age 7, she moved to France and quickly joined the Pau Conservatory to pursue advanced studies in cello. Her talent stood out early on, leading her to win several competitions and perform on numerous stages.

At 11, she gained national attention by competing on The Voice Kids, where she finished as the runner-up—a milestone that opened the door to prestigious collaborations. At 15, she was selected for The Voice All Stars, further establishing her artistic identity.

At 18, she earned her DEM (Diploma of Musical Studies) in cello with full honors, marking a major achievement in her classical training. She was then admitted to Berklee College of Music in Boston on a full scholarship. At the same time, she was chosen to sing the female lead role in the internationally acclaimed French musical Les Dix Commandements, thus widening her horizons through a year-and-a-half-long tour in major European cities. She also ventured into voice-over work for film and television, showcasing her versatility and creativity.

Today, Leelou is developing a solo project that blends her classical roots with a modern sound—a unique artistic universe shaped by emotion, authenticity, and vision.

ABOUT THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
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

September 21
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
Musical Friends
Roger Wilkie (violin), Jonah Sirota (viola), Jonathan Flaksman (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
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 31 Tickets - www.mtwilson.edu/events/concert083125
• 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.