Young Palisadians Participate in LAYO

By JOANNA SHEPHERD | Intern

For almost 20 years, the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra has been providing high-quality orchestral music training and performance opportunities to hundreds of young musicians from all over the Los Angeles area—including Pacific Palisades.

The orchestra provides scholarships in order to allow young people from every socioeconomic background the opportunity to develop and hone musical talent. The group includes students from both public and private schools, those with and without music programs, making LAYO a strong picture of contemporary LA.

That is what Palisadian mom Fati Adeli said is one of the aspects her two daughters love most about the program.

Layla, 12, and Leena, 10, have both been playing the violin since first grade through Palisades Charter Elementary School’s children’s music workshop.

Now both daughters are passionate about their instrument and devote hours to practicing and performing with LAYO.

Layla and Leena join over 80 other members for rehearsals every Sunday afternoon.

Some LAYO participants are headed to conservatories, while others are simply seeking to challenge their skills. Others have career aspirations.

Alumni of the program have gone on to attend prestigious music conservatories and university programs, including Juilliard, New England Conservatory, Curtis Institute, UCLA and Royal Academy of Music.

In addition to its annual fall and spring concerts, LAYO students travel across the country and around the world to perform. The group played Carnegie Hall in 2013, Vienna and Prague in 2015, Italy in 2017, and will be performing in Argentina in 2019.

There are two levels offered: Concert for the intermediate players (grades five through eight) and Symphony for advanced players (grades nine through 12). The Concert Orchestra primarily studies established masterworks, while the Symphony Orchestra practices standard and contemporary arrangements, much like professional orchestras.

Combining their collective talent, intellectual curiosity and discipline, LAYO students are able to interpret and perform programs that model professional orchestras.

LAYO upcoming spring concerts will take place April 15 and 16 and are open to the public.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit losangelesyouthorchestra.org.