Singing superstar Katharine McPhee headlines Symphony at Salk on August 24

June 14, 2013

Singing superstar Katharine McPhee headlines Symphony at Salk on August 24

Recording artist and actress to take the stage at Institute's premier celebration

June 14, 2013

LA JOLLA, CA—On Aug. 24, 2013, multi-talented singer Katharine McPhee will step into the spotlight as the featured headliner for the 18th annual “Symphony at Salk-a concert under the stars” to perform with the San Diego Symphony and acclaimed guest conductor Maestro Thomas Wilkins.

Symphony at Salk is one of the cultural highlights of the summer in San Diego and an annual sell out. The Institute’s signature gala, held in the iconic Theodore Gildred Court, offers a one-of-a-kind concert experience, where the audience takes in spectacular sunset views overlooking the Pacific Ocean as they enjoy a gourmet dinner and watch the evening’s musical performance.

Individual tickets for Symphony at Salk go on sale July 8, 2013 for $250 and can be purchased on the Symphony at Salk website or by calling 858-597-0657. Sponsorship packages range from $2,500 to $75,000. For additional ticket or sponsorship information, please visit the website at www.salk.edu/symphony or e-mail: symphony@salk.edu. Funds raised from the event directly support the Institute’s leading edge scientific research and award-winning community education programs.

This year, Salk introduced the new high-level Zenith sponsorship opportunity that invited donors to either underwrite the featured artist or Symphony orchestra with a $100,000 gift. Salk trustees Conrad Prebys and Frederik Paulsen-both well-known philanthropists and patrons of art and music-generously responded. Prebys, owner of Progress Construction Company and a developer of real estate enterprises in California and Texas, is the exclusive underwriter of the Symphony. Paulsen, Chairman of Ferring International, is the sole title sponsor to underwrite McPhee.

Guest artist Katharine McPhee, an award winning singer and popular actress from the television series SMASH, gained fame as a standout contestant on the fifth season of the Fox reality show American Idol, where she impressed audiences and judges alike with her stunning voice. McPhee was quickly signed to RCA Records, where her first single, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/My Destiny,” debuted at number two on Billboard’s Hot Singles Sales chart. She followed that success with her self-titled debut album, which exploded onto the Billboard 200 chart in 2007, and was ranked the best chart debut for a female artist in two years. The album went gold in 2008. In 2009, McPhee garnered a Young Hollywood Award for Best Female Vocalist. She spent 2010 touring the country with her album Unbroken, which included the hit single
“Had It All.”

McPhee is currently signed with Columbia Records and later this year will release her first album for the studio, featuring her collaborations with some of the industry’s top songwriters.

In addition to her musical accomplishments, McPhee has embarked on a successful acting career that began when she nabbed a part on the popular web series, lonelygirl15 and then went on to star in episodes of CSI: NY, CommunityThe Family Guy and several movies, including The House Bunny and You May Not Kiss the Bride before landing a lead role on the NBC series SMASH. She was also featured in two hit PBS specials, Foster and Friends and Chris Botti in Boston, alongside Sting, Andrea Bocelli and John Mayer.

McPhee is a passionate philanthropist and serves as the celebrity ambassador for Malaria No More (www.mcpheeoutreach.org).

Maestro Thomas Wilkins returns to Salk to lead the San Diego Symphony for the ninth successive year as guest conductor of the concert. A master at communicating and connecting with audiences, he has directed top orchestras throughout the United States and dedicated himself to bringing his passion for music and education to kids and grown-up audiences everywhere. One of the country’s most renowned conductors, Wilkins is Music Director of the Omaha Symphony, Principal Guest Conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and holds the Germeshausen Family and Youth Concert Conductor chair with the Boston Symphony.

Symphony at Salk is one of about 100 annual performances by the San Diego Symphony, considered one of the finest orchestras in the country. Since its inception over 100 years ago, the Symphony has been committed to providing musical experiences of superior quality for the local community and beyond by offering a wide range of exceptional concert experiences including the Masterworks, Winter and Summer Pops and the Light bulb Series. Through a rich mixture of innovative and educational programming designed to appeal to all ages and cultures, the Symphony makes music an integral part of the cultural and intellectual fabric of the San Diego region.

About the Salk Institute for Biological Studies:
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is one of the world’s preeminent basic research institutions, where internationally renowned faculty probe fundamental life science questions in a unique, collaborative, and creative environment. Focused both on discovery and on mentoring future generations of researchers, Salk scientists make groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of cancer, aging, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and infectious diseases by studying neuroscience, genetics, cell and plant biology, and related disciplines.

Faculty achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, including Nobel Prizes and memberships in the National Academy of Sciences. Founded in 1960 by polio vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk, M.D., the Institute is an independent nonprofit organization and architectural landmark.