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Salk Institute Thirty years of art & science.
Thirty years of art & science
Significant, lasting achievements rarely begin with grand gestures. More often, they take shape through small, intentional steps, guided by a clear purpose and sustained over time. Much like how cures begin with a scientist asking a simple question, Symphony at Salk began with Jonas Salk’s simple idea: the union of art and science.
That founding belief—that science and art belong together—has remained constant since the Salk Institute was founded in 1960. Jonas Salk designed the campus as a place where scientists and artists alike could find inspiration. His belief in that union was also exemplified in his marriage to artist Françoise Gilot, whose artwork has graced every Symphony at Salk since its inception in 1996. Together, their influence underscores an essential truth of scientific progress: Breakthroughs emerge not from singular moments, but from the daily, creative work of scientists who show up to push the boundaries of knowledge.
Shortly after Jonas Salk’s death in 1995, Salk honored his spirited commitment to blending art and science by welcoming 420 guests for an intimate night of music under the stars. The inaugural event featured the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, boxed dinners, and a silent auction. It was modest in scale, yet rooted in the belief that creativity fuels discovery. What began as a single evening of fundraising has since welcomed a total of close to 20,000 guests. The event has been such a success that last year’s concert sold out, each ticket supporting Salk’s mission to understand aging and cancer, and unlock the secrets of the brain.
As Symphony at Salk has evolved, so too has its artistic reach. Over the years, the event has welcomed an extraordinary roster of guest artists who have performed alongside the San Diego Symphony, spanning classical, Broadway, pop, and contemporary music. Past performers include Jennifer Hudson, Idina Menzel, LeAnn Rimes, Josh Groban, Kristin Chenoweth, and the celebrated duo David Foster and Katharine McPhee. Their performances, set against Louis Kahn’s iconic architecture, echo the rhythm of scientific discovery itself— individual voices coming together to create something greater than the sum of their parts.
As Salk’s artistic reach has grown, so has the Institute, and so has the science. Thirty years ago, at the first Symphony at Salk, the Institute had a small but mighty team of 292 employees. We now have 1,222 employees, a tight-knit, intentional community working together toward the same mission: impactful, foundational science. Salk has come a long way because of events such as Symphony at Salk.
At its heart, Symphony at Salk is not only a celebration of music but also of the perseverance that defines science at the Institute. Through wildfires, a worldwide pandemic, and government shutdowns, science has continued day after day, experiment by experiment. As Symphony at Salk marks its 30th anniversary, the 2026 event honors three decades of researchers who have shown up with curiosity, resilience, and creativity, and stands as a testament to what can grow from a simple, purposeful beginning.
Members of the San Diego Symphony play during the 29th Annual Symphony at Salk in 2025 (top) and in 2021 (bottom).
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Salk Institute | La Jolla, California
Champagne Reception | 5:30 p.m.
Gourmet Dinner | 6:30 p.m.
Concert Under the Stars | 8:00 p.m.
You’re invited to help us celebrate 30 years of Symphony at Salk, our premier fundraising event that supports scientists in their pursuit of foundational discoveries that provide new solutions for cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, agriculture, and other global challenges. We have declared 2026 to be Salk’s Year of Brain Health, and we will be accelerating research and identifying new strategies to promote cognitive health throughout our lifespans.
This exclusive event will feature an unforgettable performance by the San Diego Symphony, with guest performers The Bacon Brothers, led by Emmy-winning composer Michael Bacon and with acclaimed Hollywood actor Kevin Bacon—all set beneath the stars in the Salk Institute’s iconic courtyard overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Please join us as we empower pioneers of science and revel in the transformative power of music.
More information, table sponsorship opportunities, and tickets are available at symphony.salk.edu.
For questions, please contact Dacia Samilo at symphony@salk.edu or
(858) 453–4100 x2111.
Join us
symphony.salk.edu
