SAN DIEGO, CA – Civic Organist Emeritus Robert Plimpton will be the first world-class musician to grace the Spreckels Organ stage during the Spreckels Organ Society’s 2010 International Summer Organ Festival in Balboa Park.  His concert on Monday June 21, 2010 at 7:30 pm will kick off eleven weeks of Monday evening concerts highlighting talent from around the world performing on Balboa Park’s historic Spreckels Organ.

Robert Plimpton is a San Diego favorite and nationally lauded pipe organist who currently serves as resident organist at the First United Methodist Church of San Diego.  Known for his gregarious style and musical wisdom, Plimpton’s concerts are a highlight of any Spreckels Organ season.

Mr. Plimpton’s program will include America the Beautiful - (arr. Robert Plimpton), Procesión Alegre (Joyous Procession) - Garry A. Cornell (1990), Prelude and Fugue in D Major - J. S. Bach (1685-1750), The Cascades - Scott Joplin (1868-1917), The Squirrel - Powell Weaver (1890-1951), Toccata - John Weaver (b. 1938), selections from Pictures at an Exhibition - Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881) including Promenade Gnomus (a little gnome clumsily running with crooked legs), Promenade Tuileries (a swarm of children and nurses in the famous Parisian gardens), Promenade Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks, The Hut on Hen’s Legs (the hut of the terrible Baba Yaga of Russian folklore), The Hero’s Gate at Kiev (a Russian triumphal hymn in Russian Orthodox style), and conclude with The National Anthem.

All 2010 Spreckels Organ Society International Summer Organ Festival concerts start at 7:30 p.m.  Admission and parking are free, music-loving children and pets are welcome and many concertgoers enjoy picnics in Balboa Park before the concerts.  Light snack, beverages and gifts are available at the pavilion grounds with proceeds benefiting the non-profit Spreckels Organ Society.

The public is invited to celebrate the opening night of the International Summer Organ Festival on Mon. June 21 with the Spreckels Organ Society's traditional Bach's Supper.   This year’s event will be a Taco Fiesta beginning at 5:00 p.m.  Enjoy a buffet of freshly made tacos by La Taquiza as well as beer, wine and soft drinks under the historic colonnades of the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.  The event is open to the public and tickets must be purchased in advance at $30 for adults and $25 for children 12 and under.  Send your name, address, email, number of tickets and full payment to the Spreckels Organ Society, c/o Jack Lasher, 2756 Ariane Dr. #131, San Diego, CA  92117 before June 16.  For more information email Jack at JLasher@san.rr.com or call 858-483-1326.

Still to appear this summer at the 2010 International Summer Organ Festival are Canadian pipe organist Isabelle Deamers on June 28, award-winning American theatre organist Walt Strony on July 5, Ty Woodward on July 12, San Diego native Chelsea Chen on July 19, Kalevi Kiviniemi from Finland on July 26, Organist of the Year R. Jelani Eddington on August 2, James David Christie of the Boston Symphony Orchestra on August 9, rising stars Keenan Boswell and Nicole Cochran on August 16, Dennis James and his popular Silent Movie Night on August 23, and Jazz Night with San Diego Civic Organist Carol Williams and special guests Dave Scott and friends on August 30.

In addition to the Summer Festival evening concerts, every Sunday at 2 p.m., Dr. Carol Williams San Diego Civic Organist, gives a concert on the Spreckels Organ.   For a list of these concerts visit www.sosorgan.org or join the Spreckels Organ Society Facebook fan page.

The Spreckels Organ and Pavilion were a gift from John D. and Adolf Spreckels, of the Spreckels sugar family, and were dedicated and first played on New Year’s Eve, 1914.  The Spreckels Organ is America’s largest outdoor organ and is sponsored by the City of San Diego, The Department of Parks and Recreation and the non-profit Spreckels Organ Society.

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