The aspiration that every child has access to the experience of playing in an orchestra is shared by a community of music education providers. The LA Phil brings these diverse organizations together to think big in service of children, recognizing that we can accomplish more together than we can on our own. This is our YOLA Stakeholder Network.
The goals of the Network are to:
- Develop new orchestras of underserved youth.
- Pool resources to improve existing programs or develop new programs in targeted communities.
- Create a pipeline for underserved youth to develop the skills to perform in established youth and in-school orchestras in Los Angeles County.
- Share achievements of new/improved programming and best practices in partnerships.
- Support professional development initiatives for arts specialists and teaching artists.
"The LA Phil's YOLA network has helped RenArts connect with other organizations working to provide all students with equal access to the highest level of musical instruction. We appreciate the opportunity to share best practices, explore current scholarship, and re-imagine the future together with El Sistema-type programs in all communities."
— PK Candaux
Executive Director, Renaissance Arts Academy
"The LA Phil did a great service to the music education community by convening the YOLA Stakeholders. Through this effort, LA's BEST has enriched its String Project by meeting and partnering with other Stakeholders such as The Harmony Project and Education Through Music. It's a win-win!"
— Harold Haizlip
Corporate Consultant, After School Arts Program, LA's BEST
"The YOLA Network provides valuable opportunities for collaboration. The Network has introduced us to individuals and organizations that, like us, are in the trenches teaching children of our various communities how to play and love the works of the great composers. Through these contacts, we have come to know of resources that we believe will benefit our students."
— Charles Dickerson
Music Director and Conductor of The Southeast Symphony, and The Inner City Education Foundation Youth Orchestra
The Stakeholder Network, along with Deborah Borda, President of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, stood united at the International Youth Orchestra Festival and Symposium in October of 2007 to promote orchestral education and to officially announce Youth Orchestra LA (YOLA). Since then, the Network has worked together on important projects such as mapping resources for music education in Los Angeles County, as well as building new collaborative partnerships in underserved communities.
This year, meetings of the Stakeholders Network will include a conversation via webcam to an Abreu Fellow and a progress report on Stakeholders' El Sistema-influenced programs. In May 2010, stakeholders are invited to an LA Phil hosted symposium that offers a "global" perspective on El Sistema-influenced programs taking root beyond the borders of Venezuela, utilizing an established US "nucleo," the YOLA EXPO Center Youth Orchestra Program and one of the ultimate teachers of El Sistema, Gustavo Dudamel, as the case study.
YOLA Stakeholder organizations include:
The Harmony Project is an award-winning research-based program that targets at-risk youth in underserved areas of Los Angeles. Harmony Project promotes positive youth development through on-going year-round music lessons and ensemble participation.
Renaissance Arts Academy is a small Music and Performing Arts charter school providing an integrated classical education for middle and high school students from all backgrounds. Through rigorous academic inquiry, collaborative small-group instruction, and professionally-guided arts training, the Academy cultivates 21st century Renaissance citizens: autonomous scholars able to synthesize intellectual curiosity and academic discernment with artistic discipline to help build a rational, tolerant and hopeful future for all.
Education Through Music-Los Angeles promotes the integration of music into the curricula of disadvantaged schools in order to enhance students' academic performance and general development.
Verdugo Young Musicians Association: VYMA-Music Project at Longfellow Elementary, PUSD is inspired by 'El Sistema,' initiated by VYMA in partnership with Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD)LEARNs (after school programs). The program goal is to provide very young underserved children with a free systematic and high quality classical music education by creating children/youth orchestras in the PUSD-LEARNs elementary level programs.
Further Information
Interested in more information about the YOLA Stakeholder Network? Please contact the YOLA Stakeholders.
For videos, photos, and more information about YOLA go to www.laphil.com/education/yola.cfm
YOLA has heart and a beat that grows more forceful with each new program. YOLA is passion and community.
