John Williams gave "The Imperial March" its most unexpected encore at the Hollywood Bowl

A John Williams tribute concert ended with the kind of surprise fans do not usually get twice. The retired composer, now 94 and rarely seen in public in recent years, returned to the stage to lead one more burst of Star Wars music himself.

During the final night of the three-night Maestro of the Movies: A Tribute to John Williams at The Hollywood Bowl in Pasadena, California, Williams appeared in a wheelchair and conducted an encore of "The Imperial March" from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. The moment was captured in the clip below.

The appearance stood out because Williams has not regularly taken part in the event for some time. He conducted during the show for its first several years, but his last time onstage there had been in 2023.

Williams is officially retired, and public appearances have been uncommon. Two years ago, health issues kept him from accepting his Disney Legends award in person. At 94, the composer behind the music of Star Wars, Superman and many other films has also reached a level of recognition few people in Hollywood can match: he has received more Oscar nominations than anyone except Walt Disney.

That made the encore feel especially notable for people in the audience, many of whom would not have expected to see him conduct at all. Even with Williams stepping back from live appearances, his music remains a major presence. The score from the original Star Wars trilogy is set to be featured at the Royal Albert Hall next year. Following a major update at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland, his music can now be heard throughout the land. A documentary about him, Music by John Williams, also picked up a Grammy earlier this year.

For one night at the Bowl, though, the biggest reminder of his reach was much simpler: when "The Imperial March" started, the man who wrote it was there to lead it himself.