As summer dawns on June 21, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City will once again host one of the city’s most spiritually resonant musical traditions: the 30th Annual Summer Solstice Sunrise Celebration, led by Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Paul Winter. The event begins at 4:30 a.m., offering attendees a meditative, immersive experience timed with the year’s longest day.
Held beneath the cathedral’s vast 150-foot dome—within the largest Gothic cathedral in the world—the concert is a sensory journey through sound and light. Beginning in complete darkness and unfolding as sunlight filters through stained-glass windows, the performance is designed to reflect the celestial turning point of the summer solstice.
“Summer Solstice is one of the great turning points of the year,” said Winter in a statement. “We aim to offer an experience of resonance in the mystical ambiance of these early morning hours—a journey of deep listening within the awe-inspiring space of the Cathedral.”
This year’s concert will also celebrate the long-awaited return of the Cathedral’s famed Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ, which will be featured in a Summer Solstice concert for the first time since a 2019 fire silenced the instrument. The 8,500-pipe organ has undergone a five-year, multi-million-dollar restoration. Organist Tim Brumfield, a longtime collaborator and former Cathedral musician, will perform on the restored instrument during the event.
Winter will be joined by cellist Eugene Friesen, pianist Henrique Eisenmann, and Brumfield, forming an ensemble known for creating ethereal soundscapes that resonate with the Cathedral’s grand acoustics.
Audience members are encouraged to arrive early. For a more contemplative experience, guests may bring yoga mats and settle into a specially designated section within the nave. Following the performance, the Shumei Community of Japan will host a tea and coffee reception, offering complimentary green and roasted teas, and an opportunity to meet the musicians.
For three decades, the Summer Solstice Sunrise Celebration has offered New Yorkers and visitors a moment of connection—to nature, to music, and to one another. This year’s milestone performance is expected to be the most poignant yet, as light, sound, and spirit once again converge in one of the city’s most majestic sacred spaces.
