YOLA IN THE SPOTLIGHT

As a member of the musically famed Jackson family, Janet Jackson launched her storied career at the age of only seven.

At the Hollywood Bowl’s Opening Night Gala in June, she was joined by another group of young artists who show that age is not a barrier for shining on the biggest stages: musicians from YOLA.

Founded in 2007 by Gustavo Dudamel, the LA Phil, and community organizations, YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) offers free instruments, up to 18 hours of weekly music instruction, academic support, and leadership training to 1,700 young musicians aged 6 to 18 at five sites across Los Angeles.

¡BIENVENIDO GUSTAVO!

In Gustavo Dudamel’s first concert as Music Director for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, ¡Bienvenido Gustavo! was a free community event at the Hollywood Bowl and included a performance by musicians from YOLA.

Global Soul

As an integral part of the LA Phil’s mission to make music accessible, these musicians go on tours with the orchestra and audition for performance opportunities.

Here’s a look back at just some of the high-profile stages these remarkable artists have played on in the program’s first 16 years.

Stevie Wonder headed a celebration of soul music in its many forms, featuring musicians from around the world. The night closed with musicians from YOLA joining Wonder and other artists for Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.”

Juanes

As part of the America & Americans festival, Colombian superstar Juanes performed two nights at the Hollywood Bowl, which included an entire set accompanied by the YOLA at EXPO Chamber Orchestra.

Sim N Bol Var Symphony Orchestra

The Mahler Project saw Gustavo Dudamel lead both his present orchestra and the orchestra he grew up with—the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela—in all nine Mahler symphonies in the space of just two weeks. As part of this, the SBSOV performed a side-by-side concert with YOLA.

London Tour

Starting with the London tour, the LA Phil began regularly bringing YOLA on its travels. In 2013, musicians from YOLA participated in the Take a Stand Symposium at the Barbican Centre, which focuses on social change through music.

Japan

Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster of 2011, 15 YOLA students and Gustavo Dudamel traveled as goodwill ambassadors to the coastal town, performing with members of El Sistema Japan.

Super Bowl 50

Gustavo Dudamel and musicians from YOLA were invited to participate in the Super Bowl 50 halftime show, featuring Coldplay and Beyoncé.

California Tour

Ahead of YOLA’s 10-year anniversary, 80 YOLA musicians took a bus tour with Gustavo Dudamel and conductor Juan Felipe Molano to perform in Northridge, Visalia, Fresno, and Oakland.

CELEBRATE LA!

The LA Phil marked its 100-year anniversary with a day of free concerts featuring 1,800 musicians (400 from YOLA), leading up to a concert at the Hollywood Bowl headlined by Katy Perry.

Cdmx Tour

Ninety-six YOLA musicians joined the LA Phil on tour in Mexico City, where they shared a musical and cultural exchange with 100 local students.

Sofi Stadium Super Bowl

As part of the pregame festivities at Super Bowl LVI, musicians from YOLA performed with gospel duo Mary Mary in an arrangement of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

Hollywood Bowl 100

The Hollywood Bowl marked its 100th season, and YOLA musicians joined Gwen Stefani for opening night and a rehearsal at the Beckmen YOLA Center.

The LA Phil Affiliates are members of the Los Angeles community who dedicate their time and efforts to support the mission of the LA Phil through volunteer service, community engagement, and fundraising.

The Affiliates’ story began 100 years ago, when the Los Angeles Philharmonic Women’s Committee was organized under the leadership of Honorary Chair Bessie Bartlett Frankel. A composer and champion of chamber music, Frankel spent the next 50 years supporting the LA Phil and music in Los Angeles. “Music can hardly be considered in the category of amusements,” she wrote in a 1923 letter. “It is an educational force.”

Throughout the last century, the Women’s Committee that Frankel founded has grown outward across Southern California into 16 Affiliate Committees composed of more than 750 LA Phil supporters.

Today’s Affiliate Chair, Marian Hall, encourages all

LA Phil fans to join their local committee: “From my personal experience, I found that I met others who share the love of music. I’ve made great friends while also contributing to the arts and raising funds. Together, we will ensure that Los Angeles continues to have a world-class orchestra that leads the way with groundbreaking programming.”