Concert at Embarcadero San Diego Symphony presents “Sounds of the City,” a free event from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday, July 31, at Embarcadero Marina Park South, 206 Marina Park South Way (home of the orchestra’s Bayside Summer Nights). Guest artists are the bands Todo Mundo and King Taylor Project, and 21-year old pop/soul singer Raelee Nikole. The event offers family oriented games and activities topped off at 7:30 p.m. with the music of Academy Award-winning composer John Williams, including “Harry Potter,” “The Empire Strikes Back,” and more, played by San Diego Symphony. Find more info at 619-235-0804. Organ concerts on the docket
The Spreckels Organ Society announces commencement of its 29th annual International Summer Organ Festival – free concerts in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion Balboa Park Monday nights at 6 p.m. June 27 to Aug. 29. Beloved Maestro dies
Italian Maestro Edoardo Müller, who conducted more than 40 operas for San Diego Opera over the course of 31 years, died June 24 in Milan. A man who truly understood the voice (he was a singer himself) and loved working with singers, he was beloved of San Diego Opera staff, artists and young singers, whom he coached and mentored even beyond his official duties. He debuted at San Diego Opera with “Giovanna d’Arco” during the 1980 Verdi Festival, held the post of principal guest conductor from 2005 to 2011, the year in which he conducted his final San Diego production, “Carmen.” He is survived by his beloved wife, Giovanna, his children Michele and Laura, and four grandchildren. Music awards honor local talent
The eighth annual National High School Musical Theatre awards were handed out June 27 at New York City’s Minskoff Theatre. Among the 62 young performers, who hailed from schools nationwide, was June’s Ben Vereen Award winner, Cameron Chang of North County’s Canyon Crest Academy. In the New York competition, he was singled out by Broadway.com for the best comedic performance and also for his diverse repertoire. Lamb’s extends “American Rhythm” Lamb’s Players Theatre has extended “American Rhythm,” its popular musical revue of the past 100 years, from ragtime to rock ‘n’ roll, through Sept. 4 at Lamb’s Coronado, 1142 Orange Ave. For more info and tickets: www.lambsplayers.org or 619-437-6000. Five area artists receive Creative Catalyst Grants
In addition to playwright Tim West for his project titled “Upstart Crow,” as reported two weeks ago, four additional San Diego area artists have received Creative Catalyst Grants of $20,000 from the San Diego Foundation. They are actor, composer, arranger, orchestrator, musical director, director and playwright Steve Gunderson (“Suds”), whose project is “The Artificial Woman,” a music, theatre and dance piece for San Diego Ballet; artist and art teacher Michele Montjoy (she’s had a show at the Athenaeum), whose project is “River” for the Oceanside Museum of Art; scenic and costume designer David Reynoso (“Healing Wars” at La Jolla Playhouse), whose Mexican folkloric project “Walking La Llorona” is for The Old Globe; and playwright Janet Tiger, whose project is “Caregivers Anonymous” for the Playwrights Project.
West is a stage performer, award-winning director, produced playwright and teacher. His project, for San Diego Writers, Ink, is described as a serial collaborative theatrical event based on the “lost years” of William Shakespeare. Last chance to see “Sunday in the Park with George”
Small but mighty ion theatre, in collaboration with San Diego Museum of Art, has mounted a production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s 1984 Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, “Sunday in the Park with George,” in the James S. Copley Auditorium at the Balboa Park Museum. Final performances are 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, July 16, so hurry if you want to see the musical, never professionally produced in San Diego heretofore. Go to iontheatre.com or call 619-600-5020. Parking changes at Horton Plaza
Gone are the days when one used to be able to park at Westfield Horton Plaza, hit the food court and then see a show at San Diego Repertory Theatre – all thanks to four hours free parking courtesy of Westfield and the Rep. No more. The same number of hours will cost $24 now. What are they thinking? Are they trying to put all their shops and theatres out of business? More and more the choice is the NBC parking garage ($10) on Broadway Circle.