The city’s lone organist who plays at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park won a 10-year salary guarantee when the San Diego City Council voted 8-0 to pay Dr. Carol Williams a total of $286,000 over the next 10 years.
Williams receives approximately $28,860 annually from the city to play one hour concerts that are free to the public every Sunday. She has been the city’s civic organist since 2001 and has also performed 11 concerts on Mondays during the summer.
The Sunday concerts have always been free as part of the conditions set down nearly 100 years ago when philanthropists John and Adolph Spreckels gave the city the pipe organ as a gift. The organ was dedicated in a Dec. 31, 1914 ceremony that promised free Sunday concerts.
Williams told the Council she is often asked why she performs the concerts at the rate the city has set. “This position fulfills my life’s ambition, bringing a concert organ to a greater audience,” Williams told the Council. “I love this city and the organ.”
Third District Councilman Todd Gloria made the motion to lock in the $286,000 salary over 10 years. Sixth District Councilwoman Lorie Zapf seconded it.
The Spreckels Organ Society pays Williams $35,798 as its artistic director and provides health benefits to her. Many society members spoke in favor of retaining Williams along with many others in the Aug. 2 meeting.
