The Star Wars Fan Concert: thousands of lightsabers, and standing-room only!

Surprise ‘Star Wars’ Concert by the San Diego Symphony
Sends Comic-Con Fans Into Orbit

Original stars Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill greet concertgoers from the Summer Pops stage at Embarcadero Marina Park South

SAN DIEGO—Friday, July 10. While at the San Diego Convention Center, Star Wars director J.J. Abrams asked the crowd, “Who wants to see a live Star Wars concert right now?” The response was euphoric. More than 7,000 Comic-Con attendees left the Convention Center and descended upon Embarcadero Marina Park South to hear the San Diego Symphony perform a free concert of John Williams’ Star Wars music.

Prior to the concert, Academy Award-winner and Star Wars composer John Williams appeared on video to welcome the crowd and say: “The music tonight will be performed by one of my favorite orchestras, the San Diego Symphony.”

The enthusiasm was palpable as the standing-room only crowd waved thousands of lightsabers in anticipation. As dusk settled in, Abrams and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, and they greeted the crowd and introduced the Star Wars franchise’s past and future, bringing out the returning stars of the original trilogy: Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill along with cast members of Disney’s upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

The glorious concert was performed by the San Diego Symphony, led by the orchestra’s new assistant conductor, Sameer Patel. While the familiar and thrilling music soared over San Diego Bay, the crowd roared and cheered with delight as video from past Star Wars blockbusters along with the grandeur of the San Diego Symphony musicians played on the big screen for the capacity crowd to enjoy.

The evening concluded with the music sending chills throughout the enthusiastic crowd while a thunderous explosion of magnificent fireworks stunned the audience and rivaled the recent Fourth of July celebration.

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens is in theaters December 18, 2015!

For more information and to purchase tickets to the San Diego Symphony Summer Pops tickets call the box office at 619.235.0804 or log onto www.sandiegosymphony.com.

The Summer Pops continues through September 6. Highlights include Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, LeAnn Rimes, Ben Folds, Burt Bacharach, Esperanza Spalding, Natalie Cole and the 1812 Tchaikovsky Spectacular.

To experience the event, click here.

Press release contact:
Stephen Kougias
Director of Public Relations
619.615.3951 skougias@sandiegosymphony.org