On Friday, April 11, 2025, at noon, UC Berkeley’s Sather Tower will come alive with the sound of the Sun. “To The Sun,” a groundbreaking participatory carillon concert, transforms real-time data from NASA’s Parker Solar Probe into music and invites the public to join in the experience.
This one-of-a-kind event brings together art, science, and technology in celebration of NASA’s historic solar mission. The concert features a new composition by Stanford’s Chris Chafe, performed by renowned carillonist Tiffany Ng, with interactive visuals and a web app developed by Greg Niemeyer (UC Berkeley), and UC Berkeley students William Wu and Faye Held. The app allows audiences on the ground to play along with the carillon, echoing the probe’s celestial voyage through magnetic fields, plasma storms, and dust rings.
NASA scientist Dr. Chelle Gentemann, who curated the Parker Solar Probe data, explains: “This concert transforms that data into music—so you’re not just hearing the science, you’re part of it.”
“To The Sun” honors the Parker Solar Probe’s unprecedented journey as the first human-made object to fly through the Sun’s atmosphere, offering not only scientific breakthroughs but also awe-inspiring artistic possibilities. The performance marks the 20th anniversary of the Berkeley Center for New Media and is sponsored by the Center and UC Berkeley’s Department of Music.
Following its UC Berkeley premiere, “To The Sun” will tour carillons at the University of Chicago and the University of Michigan.
The event is free and open to the public. More information and access to the interactive app can be found at www.suncarillon.org.