Mount Wilson Observatory Invites You to “Echoes of Discovery,” a Fundraiser inside the Historic Dome at Mount Wilson Observatory

Mount Wilson Observatory invites you to celebrate a special milestone—the arrival of a newly donated and restored Steinway grand piano now finding its permanent home on the mountain. Join MWO for “Echoes of Discovery” on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 3:00pm, for an afternoon that brings together music, history, and community in a truly singular setting.

“Echoes of Discovery” marks a special moment at Mount Wilson Observatory—an event distinct from its regular concert series and conceived as a celebration of sound, science, and stewardship. Set beneath the soaring dome of the 100-inch telescope, this piano premiere invites guests into a space where discovery once reshaped humanity’s understanding of the universe—and where music now resonates with equal wonder. 

Tickets for this fundraising event are priced at $100 (concert admission only) and $250 (concert admission, plus post-concert reception with the musicians), and are available to purchase on MWO’s website: www.mtwilson.edu/events/piano-premiere042626

The concert will feature musicians Tim Durkovic (piano), Ambroise Aubrun (violin), and Cécilia Tsan (cello), playing a program highlighting the full beauty of MWO’s new grand piano.

Program: 

• Amy Beach “Romance” for violin and piano 

• Gabriel Fauré “Élégie” for cello and piano 

• Wolfgang-Amadeus Mozart “Trio in E Flat Major, K.502” 

• Johannes Brahms “Trio in C minor, Op. 101”

At the heart of the event is a historic piano—a 1907 Steinway Model O in ebony (No. 125947)—generously donated to Mount Wilson Observatory by Dr. James Vail, Professor Emeritus of Choral and Sacred Music at the University of Southern California. Recently restored thanks to anonymous gifts, the instrument now returns to public performance—its voice renewed and its future secured through shared care. Much like MWO’s historic telescopes, which were carefully restored to return them to active service, the piano represents another great instrument of its era being attentively revitalized for a new generation. Both were masterpieces of craftsmanship in their time, designed to push boundaries—one through light and discovery, the other through sound and expression—and both continue to inspire today.

By joining MWO for Echoes of Discovery, you become part of a community helping to sustain not only this remarkable instrument, but the Observatory’s broader music program as a whole. Support from this event contributes to the piano’s ongoing tuning, maintenance, and proper storage, while also strengthening Mount Wilson’s ability to present ambitious and meaningful musical programming in this extraordinary setting. These funds help MWO expand repertoire, invite exceptional artists, and further explore how music can engage with the Observatory’s history, architecture, and scientific legacy.

The Setting
The 100-inch telescope is the instrument with which Edwin Hubble revealed our place in an expanding universe. Its dome stands as a 20th-century temple of science, with acoustics that rival Europe’s great cathedrals and provide a breathtaking setting for this very special musical experience.