Each year, the LA Phil presents Symphonies for Schools: an exciting concert experience for students from throughout Los Angeles. Since our first season in 1919, we have offered these free concerts to hundreds of thousands of young people, providing many with their first experiences of symphonic music.

The Symphonies for Schools program invites students from across Los Angeles County to a free concert by the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall. These interactive concerts bring the music to life and share some of the stories behind it.

Symphonies for Schools Elementary: 45-minute concert for grades 3-5.
Symphonies for Schools Secondary: 75–90-minute concert for music students in grades 6-12.

Accepted schools for both programs receive teacher resources and student activities curated and developed by the LA Phil to prepare audience members for what may be their first visit to Walt Disney Concert Hall. 

Have a question? Email us at learning@laphil.org.

2026 Program

The application period is now closed.

Questions: learning@laphil.org

Program Details and Eligibility

• Application Limit: Selections are made on a lottery basis. Schools may only submit one application per academic year, with a cap of 100 students per school. Duplicate entries will be eliminated. All private and public schools that conduct in-person schooling within Los Angeles County are welcome to apply.

• Grade and Student Eligibility: For the elementary school program, students must be enrolled in grades 3-5 only, and the secondary school program serves music students in grades 6-12.

• Transportation Support: The LA Phil has limited funding available for transportation to and from Walt Disney Concert Hall for Symphonies for Schools concerts, with priority given to Title I schools. Our partner, Pasadena Showcase House for Arts, has additional funding to support transportation for our elementary school guests from the San Gabriel Valley area on select SFS days. Additional resources are available through Go Metro’s GoPass program or Prop 28 funds. Please reach out to your school administration for more information on proper use of Prop 28 funds.

• Homeschool and Non-Eligible Schools: Homeschools, online schools, or otherwise ineligible groups can purchase tickets to the LA Phil’s Symphonies for Youth concerts or receive school discounts through our group sales.

Have a question? Email us at learning@laphil.org.

Interested in more Learning programs like this? Sign up to join the Learning Programs email list. You'll be contacted with applications, invites and other opportunities.

“All of our fourth and fifth graders were absolutely entranced throughout the entire performance! This was truly a phenomenal experience for all of us, and we are so very grateful to the LA Phil for providing it.” 
– Samantha Theisen, Visual and Performing Arts Program Administrator, San Gabriel Unified School District

To download curricula from past Symphonies for School concerts, visit our Learning Resource page.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Los Angeles Philharmonic Committee

Karl H. Loring Fund for Symphonies for Schools

Fairchild-Martindale Foundation

Tamara L. Harris Foundation