Follow along as L.A. Phil’s new music director arrives in L.A., beginning with In-N-Out, the Dodgers and a traffic jam

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Daniel Harding, the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s new music director, received a warm California welcome on Tuesday. After arriving from Paris, he enjoyed classic California experiences like In-N-Out Burger, a jazz performance at the Beckmen YOLA Center, a tour of the Hollywood Bowl, and a Dodgers baseball game with outgoing director Gustavo Dudamel.

Before the game, Harding and Dudamel strolled onto the field wearing custom jerseys, showcasing both their enthusiasm for taking selfies and their commitment to music education for children.

Born in Oxford, England, conductor Harding’s recent visit signaled the beginning of his embrace as an adopted Angeleno. Even though he won’t officially start his role with the L.A. Phil until the 2027-28 season, the orchestra introduced him to some of the city’s most popular attractions.

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At long last, Los Angeles Philharmonic names its next music director

Daniel Harding, a British conductor and also a pilot for Air France, is set to become the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s twelfth music director. He first conducted for the L.A. Phil in 1997 when he was just 21 years old.

Plane spotting at In-N-Out

As a total film and aviation geek, I always hear about the In-N-Out Burger on Sepulveda near LAX – it’s apparently the place to watch planes! I recently learned it’s where an Air France pilot, who’s just as passionate about conducting music, grabbed lunch. He was with Kim Noltemy, the head of the L.A. Phil, and Meghan Umber, who runs the Hollywood Bowl. He kept it classic – a cheeseless burger, plain fries, and apparently, a lot of ketchup!

Harding happily posed with his hamburger and then ran over to the grass to wave at the planes. Someone from the L.A. Philharmonic jokingly warned him to be careful when he climbed on a pole for a better picture, saying, “Please don’t hurt our music director!”

The weather was pretty cloudy, but the sun peeked out for a bit, which was nice. We were able to eat outside while planes flew right over us! The In-N-Out worker said it was a slow day, but honestly, it was packed with tourists – people were constantly coming and going with their suitcases, heading to or from the airport. It was crazy to see!

During lunch, Harding finally met some of the people from the L.A. Phil in person. He chatted with their social media manager about getting his Instagram account verified, and he and the videographer shared experiences from their travels around the globe. Showing his interest in American culture, Harding jokingly asked if French fries were still being called “freedom fries.”

During lunch, Harding was completely absorbed in watching the airplanes. He enthusiastically explained to Umber how wind impacts landings and then asked if he could invite a friend – an Air France pilot he’d just seen flying into LAX – to a future concert with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Harding’s short answer to whether In-N-Out lived up to the hype? “This was excellent.”

All that jazz at Beckmen YOLA Center

When Harding arrived at the music building at the Beckmen YOLA Center in Inglewood, a buzz of excitement filled the air. Staff, former students, and donor Thomas L. Beckmen greeted him with a cheerful welcome: they formed a tunnel using boomwhackers – bright, tube-shaped instruments that help kids learn about rhythm.

“Thank you,” Harding exclaimed as he ran the gantlet while crowd members cheered out “YAY Maestro.”

When Gustavo Dudamel became music director of the L.A. Phil in 2007, he envisioned providing music education to children in communities with limited resources. The resulting center, which opened in 2021, is a highlight of his time with the orchestra. Designed by Frank Gehry, the building was created through a $14.5-million renovation of a former Burger King, transforming it into a modern music school.

Even though it was his first time visiting the center, Harding intends to continue Gustavo Dudamel’s work, jokingly telling the team, “I’m not going anywhere!”

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With Gustavo Dudamel nearing the end of his time as music director of the L.A. Phil at Walt Disney Concert Hall, he reflects on his journey and what the future holds.

During a tour of the YOLA center, alumni Kaylee Vasquez and Moses Aubrey shared their experiences with Representative Harding, describing the center as a truly special place. Harding, who played instruments in three local orchestras as a child, expressed his strong support for music education.

Harding expressed excitement about the positive energy surrounding the program, noting that she believes access to music education has diminished in her community. She feels that programs which restore these opportunities for everyone are vital and greatly appreciated by musicians like herself.

Harding was captivated by a jazz quartet featuring recent graduates of the YOLA program – Gael Saldaña, Marcos Salgado, Isabel Mora, and Amoye Olutosin – and he tapped his fingers along with the music. Following their performance, Jaelle Couch, a 16-year-old student recognized as YOLA’s student of the year, gave Harding a gift bag filled with merchandise from the L.A. Phil and YOLA. They then had a short conversation, where Harding shared his thoughts on In-N-Out Burger, though he jokingly mentioned wanting to keep his opinion a secret from his son, George.

Harding chuckled, explaining that his 21-year-old son makes amazing burgers. He admitted, though, that he secretly prefers In-N-Out, fearing his son might stop cooking for him if he knew. He quickly added, ‘Just between us, In-N-Out is the best, but George, you still make the best burger for me!’

Harding shared that he’s really looking forward to experiencing all that Los Angeles has to offer, but he’s especially excited about the music scene.

Harding described the city as vibrant and full of surprises, highlighting its energy and diverse character. Ultimately, as a musician, he expressed his greatest joy comes from collaborating with local musicians and performing for the city’s audience.

Los Angeles’ best views at the Hollywood Bowl

As Warren Harding drove to the Hollywood Bowl, he experienced something every Los Angeleno knows well: being stuck in traffic. After almost an hour on the road, he finally arrived at the famous outdoor concert venue, the summer home of the L.A. Philharmonic. A breeze blew through his hair as he made a point of greeting and introducing himself to every staff member he met.

Mark Ladd, who manages and runs the Bowl, showed Harding around the empty venue, pointing out what made it special – like its impressive sound system and the steep, 600-foot incline of the seating. As Harding stepped onto the stage from behind the scenes, he playfully told Ladd, “This is a great space you’ve got here.”

Entertainment & Arts

The Los Angeles Philharmonic’s 2026 summer season at the Hollywood Bowl will include a four-day event honoring Gustavo Dudamel, called ‘Celebrating Gustavo at the Bowl.’

After enjoying the view from the stage, the team took Harding to the very back of the venue, to the highest seats. He happily posed for pictures with the mountains and the Hollywood Sign in the background. He even playfully pretended to hold the band shell in his hand, as if it were right in front of him.

“That’s the cheesiest photo I’ve ever done,” he said with a smile.

Even with a busy day, Harding paused to enjoy the peaceful moment and the beautiful view from the hillside. He knelt down, trying to get the perfect photo with his phone.

After another successful visit, Harding received a gift bag packed with Hollywood Bowl souvenirs. It included a denim jacket from a new partnership with Citizens of Humanity and hats to shield from the sun. The gift also featured vintage-style prints inspired by old “No Fly” posters, referencing Harding’s background as a pilot and the Bowl’s history – the posters playfully asked pilots to avoid flying over the venue during performances.

The most exciting gift, however, was likely Harding’s new all-access pass to the Hollywood Bowl.

A bucket-list moment at Dodger Stadium

As a beautiful day ended, Harding ran into Gustavo Dudamel at Dodger Stadium to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers play the Colorado Rockies. Dudamel, the celebrated music director who was leaving his post, warmly greeted Harding, and they walked together as the Rockies prepared for the game.

“These are the two managers of the team,” Dudamel joked while pointing at himself and Harding.

The musicians quickly traded their black jackets for Dodgers jerseys with their names and the numbers 11 and 12 – representing their ranking as potential L.A. Phil music directors. Though he’d only arrived in Los Angeles the day before, conductor Susanna Harding fulfilled a major L.A. dream by walking onto the field at Dodger Stadium with Gustavo Dudamel.

The two visitors peeked into the Dodgers’ dugout, but were careful not to touch the players’ bats – one employee compared them to a musician’s prized instrument. Harding jokingly pretended to be a coach, yelling, “Run faster!” to the players during the game.

“We’re good at this,” Dudamel said, smiling.

Dodgers

Kiké Hernández injured his left oblique muscle during the Dodgers’ 15-6 win against the Rockies and will be placed on the injured list.

Harding playfully challenged Dudamel to a race around the baseball field, but Dudamel immediately predicted Harding would win. Even after Harding admitted he preferred cricket to baseball, revealing a fondness for British sports, Dudamel continued to support him.

“Cricket is closer, and it’s more running. But this is more lazy,” Dudamel told Harding.

Dodgers co-owner Alan Smolinisky accompanied the group on a tour of the third-oldest MLB stadium, and Dudamel and Harding later enjoyed the game from the owner’s suite.

The visit involved a lot of picture-taking, but Harding also took some time to observe the players warming up. While cameras flashed and the crowd watched, Harding and Dudamel stood next to each other as the batters practiced hitting baseballs.

Let me tell you, a perfect Los Angeles day reached its peak last night with a fantastic Dodgers victory! They absolutely demolished the Rockies, winning 15-6. It was a real blowout, and a great way to cap off the evening.

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2026-05-28 13:34