San Diego Symphony's musical July on the Embarcadero

The San Diego Symphony’s Bayside Summer Nights has its Fourth of July weekend coming up on June 30, July 1, and 2. However, on The Fourth of July the symphony welcomes country star Wynonna Judd. The concert will be followed by the Big Bay Boom fireworks show.

The rest of July is full of all and sundry. On July 6, Herb Alpert shares hits from five decades (!) on the trumpet. Leslie Odom Jr. has a concert on July 7 and 8. Odom Jr. is recently famous for his role as Aaron Burr in the hit play Hamilton.

July 12 is reserved for the venerable Tony Bennett with 80’s band Air Supply performing on July 14 and 15. The orchestra is featured on July 16 with an afternoon of free activities “for the entire family” followed by a sunset concert. Natalie Merchant, formerly one of 10,000 Maniacs, performs Three Decades of Song on July 18.

The concerts shift for one night, July 22, back to Copley Symphony Hall for an evening of John Williams entitled Raiders, Rebels, and Supermen. The month closes with four nights in a row at the Embarcadero. New Orleans Jazz begins the flourish on July 27, Hooray for Hollywood on July 28, and screenings of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on July 29 and 30.

Let’s count these concerts up. There are 17 concerts in 30 days for San Diegans (and the occasional minivan full of folks from Arizona) to choose from.

The leadership at The San Diego Symphony is going hard this summer and diversifying their offerings in order to extend the organization's influence. If a tradition such as the Hollywood Bowl with the LA Phil or Tanglewood with the Boston Symphony Orchestra can be established at our own Embarcadero Park, it will pay dividends for years to come for the greater performing arts community.