Following pushback, the L.A. Phil reinstates East L.A. Youth Orchestra

by

The L.A. Phil, after making some cuts to its youth orchestra programs, has received new donations. This funding will allow the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) program in East L.A. to continue operating as usual through the end of the school year.

Last week, the nonprofit sent an email to parents explaining that it had to make major changes to its programs at Esteban E. Torres High School because of unexpected financial difficulties. As a result, the teaching artists at the school were let go, programs for younger students were drastically cut, and opportunities for older students were reduced.

When funding cuts were announced, students’ families and community members quickly united to protest. They launched an Instagram campaign and spoke out at town hall meetings. Thanks to this strong reaction and some new funding, the L.A. Phil has been able to keep the Torres site open for now.

LA Phil President and CEO Kim Noltemy told The Times on Wednesday that they are excited their donors understand this funding will greatly help provide music education to the East LA community.

Noltemy stated that they are committed to supporting the program, and will continue to work hard in the months ahead, especially because the program is now critically important.

Since 2007, YOLA has been providing free music lessons to young people aged 5 to 18. Managed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the program offers students free instruments and the chance to play in a group. YOLA currently has locations in Inglewood, East L.A., the Rampart District, and Westlake/MacArthur Park, with the site at Torres serving 165 students.

Star conductor Gustavo Dudamel has strongly supported this program since arriving in Los Angeles in 2009. The program’s teaching style is based on El Sistema, the Venezuelan music education program where Dudamel first studied music. After 17 years leading the L.A. Phil, Dudamel will be moving to the New York Philharmonic in June.

A representative from the L.A. Philharmonic explained to The Times that the orchestra is facing financial difficulties due to challenges with fundraising and increasing expenses, all while continuing to offer its regular programs, including free or low-cost events for the community.

As a huge fan of the orchestra, I was really worried when I heard about potential cuts to rehearsal time and staff. It was supposed to happen back in December, even before Maestro Dudamel left. But thankfully, some new funding has come through, which means those cuts are off the table! They’re reinstating the staff who were let go and keeping everything running smoothly for the rest of the program. It’s a huge relief!

These proposed changes were revealed shortly before the teaching artists decided to form a union with the American Federation of Musicians. Some people wonder if the union vote influenced these cuts.

The L.A. Phil told the Times that they have always had a positive relationship with unions and that these recent cuts were made only because of financial difficulties and restructuring needs.

After the 2025-2026 school year, the L.A. Phil Board will review the Torres site to determine if it’s the best place for YOLA programs to continue long-term. The organization stated that its board is dedicated to maintaining YOLA in East Los Angeles for years to come.

To foster a more open and collaborative environment, the Phil is creating a parent advisory committee. This committee will give YOLA families a voice in future decisions.

Read More

2025-11-26 21:31