Few concert spaces can claim that the universe grew larger inside their walls. The dome of the 100-inch Hooker telescope at Mount Wilson Observatory can — this is where Edwin Hubble proved the cosmos is expanding — and on Sunday, July 5, it becomes a stage for world-class brass.
Parallax Brass takes the third Sunday Afternoon Concert in the Dome of the 2026 season, performing Leonard Bernstein’s “Suite from West Side Story” and more inside the vaulted chamber that Chicago architect D.H. Burnham designed nearly a century ago. The acoustics, admirers say, rival Europe’s great cathedrals. The quintet features Dan Rosenboom and Rob Schaer on trumpets, Laura Brenes on horn, Alex Iles on trombone and Doug Tornquist on tuba.
The series, curated by artistic director Cécilia Tsan, principal cellist of the Long Beach Symphony, pairs ambitious programming with one of the most improbable venues in Southern California — a working scientific landmark more than a mile above Los Angeles. A reception with light refreshments follows outside the dome.
Getting there is part of the adventure. The observatory sits at roughly 5,700 feet in the San Gabriel Mountains, where the air is noticeably thinner, and reaching the performance level means climbing a 53-step staircase with no elevator or ADA-compliant access. Organizers recommend comfortable shoes, layers for the mountain chill and an early arrival. A U.S. Forest Service Adventure Pass is required to park.
Performances are scheduled at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., and seating is limited, so advance tickets are strongly encouraged.
Parallax Brass: Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome will take place on Sunday, July 5 at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Mount Wilson Observatory, 100 Mt. Wilson Circle Road, Mount Wilson. For more information, visit mtwilson.edu/concerts. Tickets: $65, which includes access to the observatory exhibit.
