FEATURE 15 YEARS OF YOLA

FIFTEEN YEARS OF YOLA

A decade and a half ago, the first class of 80 students in the LA Phil’s new Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) program gathered in the Expo Center in South LA. Guided by the vision and experience of Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel growing up in Venezuela’s El Sistema, YOLA is a youth development and music instruction program that provides free instruments and intensive instruction in communities where it often wouldn’t otherwise be available. Fifteen years in, YOLA now serves more than 1,500 young musicians at five sites, leading Gustavo Dudamel to say, “It has been one of the highlights of my career to watch YOLA grow from a simple idea to something that impacts so many young musicians’ lives.”

BECKMEN YOLA CENTER OPENS IN INGLEWOOD

After years of planning, fundraising, and construction, the Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center opened its doors last year, welcoming its first class of young musicians. The 25,000-square-foot center features world-class acoustics and spaces that serve both as the home of YOLA’s fifth site as well as a gathering place for students from existing and future YOLA sites. In addition to its youth programming, the Beckmen YOLA Center is a space for music educators from across the U.S. and around the world to collaborate and learn.

“We’re really excited to be in Inglewood,” said Camille Delaney-McNeil, who is the Director of the Beckmen YOLA Center. “This is a new area not only for YOLA but also for the LA Phil. We’re not just coming here to pop up shop; we’re building roots and trying to make a resource for the community by highlighting young people in the arts.”

An example of that outward-facing mission came together in May when YOLA partnered with the Getty and CARS (Community Arts Resources) to host the Getty 25 Celebrates Inglewood community festival, during which the Beckmen YOLA Center opened its doors to host performances.

Opening for classes last fall, the YOLA at Inglewood program at the Beckmen YOLA Center contains more than 130 young musicians. The center will grow to support more than 500. Dalanie Harris grew up in Inglewood and is a YOLA alumnus who was in the program from 7th grade up until college. Harris said she is excited by the open design of the building that invites passersby to see into the windows.

“A big part of it is representation,” she said. “People can see in as they walk by, and [it’s important] for people to not only see an orchestra in their community but an orchestra that looks like the community.”

YOLA AT THE SUPER BOWL

Musicians of YOLA are no strangers to big stages, with YOLA musicians joining the LA Phil on international tours. Even still, performing for a TV audience of 100 million in the pre-game festivities ahead of Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood was a rare opportunity. Conducted by Thomas Wilkins with music direction and arrangement by Derrick Hodge, musicians from YOLA accompanied gospel duo Mary Mary in a moving performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

The performance marked the second Super Bowl appearance by YOLA, the first being the 2016 halftime show performance with Coldplay, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. YOLA musicians performing at SoFi Stadium also got tickets to watch the game. “It really was a moment to celebrate their accomplishments and hard work as young musicians,” said Director Delaney-McNeil.