Benefit Concert Series

Lick Observatory presents a variety of performers in a summer concert series to benefit the Lick Observatory Visitors Programs. Doors open and seating begins one half hour before the concert.

Talks by our famous research astronomers begin right after the music. Viewing through both the 36-inch Great Lick Refractor and the Nickel 40-inch Reflecting Telescope follows, weather permitting. Amateur astronomer volunteers provide additional outside viewing and informal talks. Attendance not advisable for children under ten years old.

Only 160 seats are available each night. Concerts sell out quickly and ticket requests are filled in the order received.

Ticket Sales

VIP and Preferred and Standard Tickets ON SALE NOW

Tickets are non-refundable

  Tickets are available:

See below for contact information

Ticket Prices

Prices include service fee. Three types of tickets are available for each concert:

VIP Tickets: $155.00
$104.00 tax deductible

  • private tour of the 3-m Shane telescope
  • light buffet
  • reserved seating at concert
  • astronomy talk
  • viewing through the 36-inch refracting telescope (and possibly the Nickel Reflector)
  • commemorative wineglass or coffee cup
  • 20 percent discount in our gift shop
  • limited to 20 ticket holders per concert

Preferred tickets: $105.00
$72.00 tax deductible

  • reserved seating at concert
  • astronomy talk
  • viewing through the 36-inch refracting telescope (and possibly the Nickel Reflector)
  • commemorative wineglass or coffee cup
  • 20 percent discount in our gift shop

Standard tickets: $35.00
$8.00 tax deductible

  • concert
  • astronomy talk
  • viewing through the 36-inch refracting telescope (and possibly the Nickel Reflector)
  • commemorative wineglass or coffee cup

Contact the Lick Observatory Gift Shop at 408-274-5061 or giftshop@ucolick.org if you have further questions about the Music of the Spheres Concerts.

Ticket Contacts

UCSC Ticket Office
Phone: 831-459-2159
Fax: 831-459-3552
1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA
(on the UCSC campus)
Hours: Tues. - Sat., 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm

Santa Cruz Civic Box Office
831-420-5260
307 Church Street, Santa Cruz, CA
(downtown Santa Cruz)
Hours: Mon. - Fri., 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sat - Sun., 10:00 am - 1:30 pm

Directions to Mt. Hamilton

Lick Observatory is located on the summit of Mt. Hamilton in the Diablo Range east of San Jose. To get there from Hwys 101, 280, or 680, take the Alum Rock Avenue exit from Interstate 680. Go east onto Alum Rock Avenue. Turn right onto Mt. Hamilton Road (California Route 130). Allow about one hour from San Jose, and please drive carefully as the road is good, but winding.

From the east, take Interstate 580 west to Interstate 680 south. Then follow the directions above

Alternatively, you may take take California Route 130 to Mt. Hamilton from the east, but please allow about 1-3/4 hours from Interstate 5 to reach the Observatory. The road is long and winding, but well-maintained. Take the Diablo Grande Parkway exit off Interstate 5, heading west (away from Patterson). Take the first right on Puerto del Canyon Road (toward Frank Raines Park). Look carefully for this turn because there is not much signage. At the Junction Cafe, turn left to stay on California Route 130.

Keep in mind that at 4209 feet, evenings on Mt. Hamilton can be cool, so bring a sweater or coat. We provide wheelchair access to the concerts and to the 36-inch telescope. There is no gas station at the Observatory. Parking is limited so please car pool, if possible.

For more details, call 408-274-5061, between 12:30 and 5:00 pm, or email giftshop@ucolick.org

Dome Safety Modification Project

We're continuing to work on renovating our 36-inch refracting telescope dome. When completed, this renovation will benefit Music of the Spheres Concert series and Summer Visitors Program:

  • Concerts will be held inside the 36-inch dome again.
  • Because the dome will accommodate larger groups, visitors can stay in the dome longer. Their eyes will become dark-adapted, so they will actually see more through the telescope.

We invite you to donate in any of the following ways:

  • Send a check payable to UC Regents to Lick Observatory, PO Box 85, Mt. Hamilton, CA 95140. Write Donation: Dome Safety Modification in the memo area of the check.
  • Donate through UCSC ticket office when purchasing Summer Visitor Program tickets
  • Bring your donation to the Observatory when you visit
size comparison: person at 36-inch refractor
The public is invited to look through the historic Great Lick Refractor after the concert, weather permitting. VIP tickets holders may also tour the Shane telescope dome before the concert.
© UC Regents/Lick Observatory

2009 Concert Dates

Saturday, June 27
Dave Rocha Jazz Trio
SOLD OUT
Doors open: 8:00pm
Start event: 8:30pm
Speaker: Raja Guhathakurta, UCSC
Talk: "Our Place in the Cosmos"

The Dave Rocha jazz trio is one of the hottest jazz groups in the Bay Area. You don't want to miss this performance! The band performs an amazing mix of originals, uniquely arranged standards and music from other genres. From fiery uptempo compositions to jazz waltzes, and from Latin modes to beautiful sensitive ballads, trumpeter Dave Rocha will take you to unknown frontiers in the jazz universe.

Saturday, July 11
Tingstad and Rumbel
Doors open: 8:00pm
Start event: 8:30pm
Speaker: Debra Fischer, SFSU
Talk: "The Great Lick Observatory Planet Hunt"

Tingstad & Rumbel will be playing music from their new album, "Leap of Faith." Tingstad is a renowned fingerstyle guitarist, while Rumbel is highly acclaimed for her melodic styling on double reed and ocarina. This is American home-style music at its finest, with eclectic flavors and international spice. Selections range from their most-requested song, Medicine Tree, to traditional Asian folk tunes, Tex-Mex stylings, Caribbean rhythms, and covers from the Great American Songbook. In 2003, their CD "Acoustic Garden" won music's highest honor, the Grammy Award. In 2007, Tingstad was nominated for a Grammy Award for his ensemble release, "Southwest."

Saturday, July 25
Ramón Romero
Doors open: 7:30pm
Start event: 8:00pm
Speaker: Graeme Smith, UCSC
Talk: "Two Views of the Moon"

Fiery sounds of South America! Music of the Spheres favorite, Latin Harp virtuoso Ramón Romero returns with the music and song of his native South America. Performing on his beautiful, hand-carved Paraguayan harp, he entices listeners to join him on a melodic musical journey through Argentina, Venezuela, Columbia, Chile, and Paraguay. Ramón built his first harp at the age of 13, from discarded window frames. Now, after more than forty years of touring on four continents, Ramón still rejoices in the music of his homeland and the harp. Join us in an evening of lyrical Latin music.

Saturday, August 8
Christopher Morrongiello
Doors open: 7:30pm
Start event: 8:00pm
Speaker: Elinor Gates, Lick Observatory
Talk: "Untwinkling the Stars: Improving our view of the Universe with Adaptive Optics "

The Calling of the Muses: Galileo and his Lute: Music played an important part in the life of Galileo. His father Vincenzo was an eminent lute player and composer, as was his brother Michelagnolo. Galileo himself was an accomplished lutenist who used his deep understanding of the instrument as an aid for refining several scientific theories. Virtuoso lutenist Christopher Morrongiello, who holds a doctorate in music from Oxford University, will present a recital of lute music featuring works by the Galileo family and their distinguished musical contemporaries. A rare treat, not to be missed, he will perform on an authentic gut-strung lute and recount how Galileo's knowledge and love of music helped advance his knowledge of science.

Saturday, August 22
Coulter/Phillips Trio
Doors open: 7:00pm
Start event: 7:30pm
Speaker: Jason X. Prochaska, UCSC
Talk: "Cosmology in the 21st Century"

William Coulter and Barry and Shelley Phillips have recorded over 20 albums of traditional and classical music during the past 20 years. Their repertoire spans the world of folk music: from Ireland to Sweden to Bulgaria to China and back to the music of the American Shakers. Guitarist William Coulter, cellist and percussionist Barry Phillips, Celtic harp and woodwind multi-instrumentalist Shelley Phillips combine the beauty of traditional music and the excitement of modern instrumentation, arrangement, and performance, creating a sound that is both magical and uplifting. William, Barry and Shelley have performed all over the world and occasionally play around Santa Cruz, their home town.

Saturday, September 12
Daniel Roest & Alex de Grassi
Doors open: 6:30pm
Start event: 7:00pm
Speaker: Geoff Marcy, UCB
Talk: "Detecting Other Earths"

Great Guitars! 2009. Fingerstyle icon Alex de Grassi joins classical guitarist Daniel Roest. De Grassi's fame spans the globe. His playing interweaves melody, counter-melody, bass, harmony, rhythm, and cross-rhythms, creating a canvas of sound rarely heard in a solo guitar performance. He has released sixteen albums albums since "Turning: Turning Back" helped launch Windham Hill's success in 1978. His tenth recording, "The Water Garden," garnered both Grammy and Indie Award nominations. He is the subject of a PBS concert/interview television show, "Alex de Grassi: The Artist's Profile."

Daniel Roest's concerts have been a favorite of Lick audiences for many years.