San Diego, CA
Mainly Mozart soloist Erin Hannigan a standout on oboe and with animals
Last month, Erin Hannigan was preparing for her last two performances as Dallas Symphony’s principal oboist before joining the faculty at the prestigious Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston.
Before making the life-changing leap, Hannigan took time to discuss her big move, love of the oboe, reed-making, support of rescue animals and her longtime affiliation with San Diego’s Mainly Mozart.
She will be one of the 70 top musicians to perform at Mainly Mozart’s All-Star Orchestra Festival beginning Wednesday and concluding June 28. Four festival concerts will take place at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center in La Jolla. The other two will be at UC San Diego’s Epstein Family Amphitheater.
Hannigan played seven times, from 1999 to 2007, with Mainly Mozart at its original home, downtown’s Balboa Theatre.
“I started performing with them again at the outdoor concerts the festival had smartly reconfigured for COVID,” she said, speaking from her Dallas home.
“I’ve liked watching how the organization has evolved. It wasn’t easy navigating all that and Mainly Mozart really did it well. And Michael Francis is just the perfect conductor for this orchestra. He’s excellent professionally, but he’s also very personable. Michael creates such a connection with the audience.”
Francis, in turn, calls Hannigan “a wonderful musician.” He expressed delight that she will share first and second oboe roles at the festival with Frank Rosenwein, Cleveland Orchestra’s principal oboe.
“It’s really charming,” Francis said. “They’re good friends.”
Hannigan believes that cooperative spirit is inherent to the festival.
“The number one thing to know about Mainly Mozart is it’s an amazing gathering of incredible musicians, but with no ego,” she said. “We just work out our assignments and have a good time. That egoless thing really adds to it all. The audience can tell we’re up there having fun.”
`Wonderful musical camaraderie’
This year, Mainly Mozart’s Francis is featuring more orchestra veterans as soloists than in other years. Wednesday’s opening night at the Baker-Baum will feature six concertmasters playing solos in Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires.
On Friday, two Mainly Mozart mainstays, clarinetist Boris Allakhverdyan and bassoonist Whitney Crockett, will be in the spotlight performing Strauss’s Duet Concertino.
In another unusual touch, the festival is highlighting the work of a contemporary composer. British violinist Noah Bendix-Balgley will perform his own “A Klezmer Concerto” with the orchestra on June 26.
On June 28 at the Epstein, Bendix-Balgley will join acclaimed pianist Joyce Yang and Robert DeMaine, principal cello of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, for Beethoven’s Triple Concerto. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 will close the festival that night.
“This year’s festival has a great balance,” Francis said. “It’s a terrific opportunity for our audience to hear familiar composers alongside slightly unfamiliar repertoire.
“I know that the musicians are excited because there will be so many solos. They always bring their best. It’s going to be a wonderful musical camaraderie.”
The Epstein now has more food and seating options for picnickers, noted Nancy Laturno, Mainly Mozart’s CEO. Attendees can buy food or bring their own.
“Before the concert, you can mingle,” Laturno said. “You can have appetizers, wine and other beverages, and then sit down — either on our patio furniture, the Adirondack chairs or a blanket on the grass — and watch the concert from the area where you just had your party.”
Artists for Animals
Joining in the camaraderie on stage, Hannigan will be a soloist in the Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 on June 24 at The Conrad.
When the oboist, a native of Mt. Gretna, Penn., makes the move to Houston, she’ll be accompanied by her husband of six years, Fred Tuomi, Gabby, her Siamese cat, and dog, Jophiel.
During her time with the Dallas Symphony, Hannigan co-founded Artists for Animals, which supports nonprofit animal rescue organizations. The group presents Concerts for Kindness, which has raised over $450,000 for rescue organizations.
“The money we bring in all goes directly to the animals,” said Hannigan, who has fostered 156 dogs. “I hope to transfer this wonderful project to Houston, once I get the lay of the land. Rice University is very interested in community engagement. I’m sure I’ll find a landing spot for Artists for Animals.”
When Hannigan practices the oboe, Jophiel runs the other way. But Gabby will sit for hours while the oboist practices and makes reeds for her instrument. She calculated that she has made 8,000 to 10,000 reeds over the course of a career that began when she joined the Rochester Philharmonic in 1994.
“If you don’t make them yourself, you can end up playing on a setup of oboe and reed that makes it very hard to put your air through,” she said. “The reed needs to be properly balanced.”
Why the oboe, which she has played since the age of 7?
“The sound is incredibly expressive,” Hannigan explained. “Some of the most beautiful solos in the orchestral repertoire were written for the oboe.”
While teaching at Rice University, she will also be a guest as a soloist and principal for orchestras around the country.
But before embarking on that adventure, Hannigan will be spending two weeks here with Mainly Mozart. Her husband, a former Rancho Santa Fe resident with family in North County, is coming, too.
“I’ve gotten to know San Diego through Mainly Mozart,” Hannigan said. “In the early years, I got to know downtown San Diego, and — these days — La Jolla. Now it’s also family time. Fred spends time with his family, and I join whenever I can.
“It’s a lovely time to visit both San Diego family and the musicians and friends I don’t see other than at Mainly Mozart.”
Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival 2025 Schedule
When: All concerts begin at 7 p.m. Each performance lasts 75-90 minutes. Concerts at the Baker-Baum Concert Hall will have a 15-minute intermission.
Where: Epstein Family Amphitheater at UC San Diego, 9480 Innovation Lane, La Jolla; The Baker-Baum Concert Hall, Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., La Jolla.
SCHEDULE
Wednesday, June 18: Mozart’s Serenade in C Major, Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Piazzola’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires. Baker-Baum Concert Hall
Friday, June 20: Mozart’s Serenade No. 6 “Serenata Notturna,” Strauss’ Duet Concertino for Clarinet and Bassoon featuring Boris Allakhverdyan and Whitney Crockett, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 in D Major. Baker-Baum Concert Hall
Saturday, June 21: Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro, Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G minor and Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor featuring pianist Joyce Yang. Epstein Family Amphitheater
Tuesday, June 24: Stravinsky’s Concerto in E-flat, Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos No. 2 and No. 5, and Mozart’s Symphony No. 35 in D Major. Baker-Baum Concert Hall
Thursday, June 26: Mozart’s Overture to Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio), Bendix-Balgley’s A Klezmer Concerto featuring composer and violinist Noah Bendix-Balgley, and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5 in D Major “Reformation.” Baker-Baum Concert Hall
Saturday, June 28: Mozart’s Overture to Così, Beethoven’s Triple Concerto in C Major, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A Major. Epstein Family Amphitheater
Tickets: Single tickets for Epstein Family Amphitheater concerts range from $25 to $149. Single tickets for Baker-Baum Concert Hall performances range from $65 to $149. Subscription packages are also available.
Info: 619-239-0100
Online: mainlymozart.org
San Diego, CA
WEBTOON Brings Top Creators for San Diego Comic-Con Panels
Global entertainment company Webtoon is returning to the hallowed halls of San Diego Comic-Con with a larger-than-life slate of panels featuring top talent and fresh announcements.
They will be shining the spotlight on some of today’s most engaging webcomic creators, including Derek V. Song (Fantasy High) and Punko (Cinderella Boy).
Let’s take a look at their schedule:
Thursday, July 23 – 10am – Room 29AB
Creature Craft: Visionaries of Horror Comics Share Their Secrets
This panel features Punko, creator of Stagtown and Cinderella Boy on WEBTOON; Cullen Bunn, creator of Ripcord and Deluge for Ignition Press; and Cat Staggs, co-creator of Death Mask, and artist on Tales for a HalloweeNight for Storm King Comics. Rotem Rusak, Editor-in-Chief at Nerdist, will moderate.
Friday, July 24 – 10am – Room 32AB
Love in Every Universe: The Great Romance Trope Debate
Join ROSEOAK, creator of Not So Silent on WEBTOON, Alessandra Ferreri, Head of Content at Wattpad, E.M. Wilson, author of Situationship, and Becca Erin Title, founder of Meet Cute Romance Bookshop. The panel is moderated by Crystal Bell, the Culture Editor at Mashable.
Friday, July 24 – 1pm – Room 32AB
Adapting Fantasy High for WEBTOON with Derek V. Song
Featuring Derek V. Song, writer of Fantasy High. Fans will get a behind-the-scenes look at adapting the beloved Dimension 20 series for WEBTOON and learn more about bringing the world of Fantasy High to a new visual format.
Saturday, July 25 – 11:30am – Room 24ABC
What’s Next from WEBTOON Entertainment
Featuring Ryan Lee, Head of Content at WEBTOON; Sydney Bright, Head of Global Animation at WEBTOON Productions; Erik Kozura, Producer at WEBTOON; ROSEOAK, creator of Not So Silent; Derek V. Song, writer of Fantasy High; Punko, creator of Stagtown and Cinderella Boy; and Ucheomaaa, creator of Vibe Check! on WEBTOON. Journalist, comic critic, and 2026 Eisner judge, Tiffany Babb, will moderate. his panel will deliver a slew of announcements, exclusive first looks, and Creator appearances from its platform and entertainment businesses. Additionally, the panel will give fans a window into what’s next from WEBTOON’s most exciting stories and projects, with news from WEBTOON Originals, WEBTOON Productions, WEBTOON Unscrolled, and more.
San Diego, CA
Terrifying moment huge sea lions chase tourists off popular California beach
Beachgoers in one Southern California town had to run for their lives after two massive sea lions came out of the ocean and onto the beach in San Diego.
In a video posted July 7 on Instagram, Dion Ruzicka captured the terrifying moment the two giant sea creatures hit the shore and began chasing people at the beach on a sunny California day.
One sea lion suddenly charged at stunned beachgoers, barreling across the sand as terrified visitors shrieked and sprinted away while the barking beast gave chase.
Moments later, a second sea lion joined the chaos, sending panicked crowds scrambling for higher ground — and even into the surf — to escape the pair’s path.
The more people ran, the more determined the hefty marine mammals seemed, waddling after the fleeing beachgoers in a bizarre game of chase.
“Oh my God,” one person could be heard saying, in the midst of the chaotic scramble.
It didn’t matter whether the visitor was young or old, the sea lion just kept chasing them. Finally, both animals dived back into the ocean and swam away at a quick pace.
It is not the first time such an encounter has happened in the popular La Jolla spot. A year ago, a video showed a pair of sea lions chasing beachgoers around before finally leaving.
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San Diego has warned the public about the potential dangers of going near wildlife living in the area.
“With the increase in the sea lion population, Point La Jolla has become a popular tourist destination for the public to view these wild animals close up,” a message on the city’s website read.
As a result, interactions between sea lions and the public have increased.
“Members of the public have been observed trying to touch, take selfies, and get as close to sea lions as possible which is a dangerous situation for both the public and the animals,” it added.
Officials suggest people watch the animals from the boardwalk and keep their distance from the sea lions.
While it is unclear what lead to Tuesday’s chase, the summer months are pupping season for these ocean animals. Mothers and fathers become protective of their young ones, and will display aggressive behavior, if they sense a threat, per officials.
“These interactions are not only dangerous for both humans and wildlife, it may be a violation of the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act which helps to safeguard these animals,” the city said.
The California Post has reached out to the La Jolla Parks and Beaches group for further comment.
San Diego, CA
Opinion: More apartments eased rents. Townhomes could aid buyers.
San Diego’s most beloved neighborhoods, like North Park, Golden Hill and Sherman Heights, were built by people who needed a place to live and found one. But the bungalows, fourplexes and cottages that gave working San Diegans a foothold in those neighborhoods can hardly be built anywhere else in the city.
Rules written decades ago banned them. For 70 years, San Diego has been paying for that mistake in the form of a city its own workforce can no longer afford to live in.
Neighborhood Homes for All of Us is the city’s plan to fix that: family-sized townhomes, rowhouses and small duplexes built in the neighborhoods where San Diegans most want to live.
While San Diego rents are softening as new apartments are built, the cost of buying a home is not moving, and it won’t, because the rental and ownership markets run on entirely separate tracks. Renters benefit when more rentals are built, forcing landlords to compete for them.
However, a family trying to buy a home benefits only if more homes are available for sale. San Diego home prices now exceed nine times the median household income, among the worst ratios in the nation, according to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies. Building rental housing is important, but it does not change the math for a buyer.
The homes that would change it — family-sized, on the ownership track, in the neighborhoods where people most want to raise children — have been illegal to build for decades. San Diego produced roughly 7,000 condos and townhomes a year in 2005. By 2022, that number had collapsed below 500. Part of that drop is because of litigation rules that drove up insurance costs for builders, caps on pre-sales that finance these projects and high fees. Another major reason is that we simply do not allow starter homes on smaller lots. So, instead, builders default to rentals because that’s what current rules allow them to build profitably.
London Moeder Advisors, a San Diego real estate economics firm, finds that eliminating the city’s large-lot-size mandates could produce new townhomes at 42% less cost than surrounding single-family homes without taxpayer subsidies. While this price point is still high for many, it’s more attainable for young families starting out. And importantly, the price could drop further if the state advances reforms to address litigation rules and pre-sale caps that drive up costs.
The city’s program is also focused on adding homes in San Diego’s neighborhoods with the best-performing schools and most accessible jobs. These are also the neighborhoods with the most restrictive regulations on smaller starter homes. A teacher whose classroom is in La Jolla cannot afford to live there. A firefighter stationed in Mission Hills commutes from Santee. The homes that would let them stay are currently illegal to build in much of these areas. Neighborhood Homes changes that.
While critics may say San Diego already has the tools for adding homes to neighborhoods, why add another program? Because each of those tools was for a different purpose. None were designed to add more for-sale housing.
ADUs, the backyard homes now common across the city, typically top out at 750 square feet (because of fee cliffs) and entail intricacies when selling to own. Other tools, like Senate Bill 9, have been layered with requirements that make it far too complicated and expensive for many homeowners to split their lots to add homes. Laws like Senate Bill 79 are important for adding more housing near transit. But none of these tools focuses on family-sized, ownership-track townhomes in an established neighborhood.
The Neighborhood Homes initiative asks a simple question: Where do the families who can’t afford a million-dollar home but don’t want an apartment go? We can continue to say certain neighborhoods are off-limits to the teachers, trades workers and young families who want to live there, or San Diego can set its own terms for how they grow, with local standards in a form the city controls.
San Diego’s most beloved streets were not preserved into existence. They were built — a duplex here, a rowhouse there — by people who needed a place to live in the city they loved and found one. That is what Neighborhood Homes makes possible again.
Asad is a former board member of the YIMBY Democrats of San Diego County. He resides in Mid-City.
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