From February 19 to March 9, 2025, Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic honored the bold and brilliant legacy of composer Gustav Mahler in an exciting music-filled celebration called the Mahler Grooves Festival.

As part of the festival, youth and university-level ensembles from across the city—including musicians from the LA Phil’s YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) program—joined in the celebration for the Mahlerthon, a two-part, daylong concert of purely Mahler music.

Like any marathon, training for a Mahlerthon takes practice, discipline, and a passion for both the process and the end-goal. Hear directly from the students and leaders on what it takes to train for a Mahlerthon.