Hollywood Bowl Names Stage After Composer John Williams

Written by Chantal Gapato  |  November 12, 2025

The Hollywood Bowl has officially named its stage after composer and conductor John Williams, recognizing his six-decade partnership with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and his immense influence on film and concert music.

A private dedication ceremony, hosted by LA Phil President and CEO Kim Noltemy and Board Chair Jason Subotky, took place at the Bowl’s historic shell. The event featured performances by the LA Phil Brass Ensemble of Williams’ Music for Brass and his Theme from Sabrina, along with a tribute video that honored his remarkable legacy.

The dedication was supported by philanthropic contributions from longtime LA Phil supporters and friends of Williams, including Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw / The Hearthland Foundation, Jason Subotky and Anne Akiko Meyers, Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen, Seth MacFarlane, Andrew Hewitt, Michael Rapino, Bill Silva, Barbara and Jay Rasulo, Jay and Deanie Stein, Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, and the Katie McGrath and J.J. Abrams Family Foundation.

“Without John Williams, bikes don’t really fly, nor do brooms in Quidditch matches, nor do men in red capes,” said Steven Spielberg. “There is no Force, dinosaurs do not walk the Earth. We do not wonder, we do not weep, we do not believe.”

Williams expressed deep gratitude for the honor, saying, “This is an honor that is unprecedented and unequaled in generosity shown by the Los Angeles Philharmonic family, my family, in making this dedication. I want to thank all of the donors in this effort, who proudly support and salute the work done by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, one of the great orchestras of the world. The uniqueness of this honor is certainly unheard of and I thank all of you.”

Williams, one of the most celebrated composers of all time, has earned 52 Academy Award nominations and five wins for Fiddler on the Roof, Jaws, Star Wars, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Schindler’s List. His music has defined the sound of modern cinema, from Indiana Jones and Harry Potter to Jurassic Park and Superman.

The dedication marks the first time in the Hollywood Bowl’s 103-year history that its stage has been named after an artist, solidifying Williams’ place as a cornerstone of American musical and cultural history.