Friends and family of the East Los Angeles community joined LAMusArt on Sunday April 30th at the East Los Angeles College to watch the music ensembles perform Broadway classics under the steady hand of conductor Austin Chanu, who made his debut as LAMusArt’s resident Ensembles Music Director. Students of the Choir, Junior and Youth Orchestras, and the Music Outreach Partnership Program (MOPP) with KIPP LA charter schools, performed show tunes from hit musicals like Godspell, Hamilton, On the Town, and Waitress among many others to a full house for the early afternoon performance.
The afternoon began with an introduction to the Young Professionals Advisory Board (YPAB) by the YPAB’s current Event Chair, Mike Robles, who spoke about the board’s role as a young group of leaders in the community, helping to sustain our artistic programs.
“The YPAB is a community of engaged young professional leaders empowered to support young students’ continued access to a safe creative environment to support their holistic development through the arts,” Robles said. He then presented the students of the Junior Orchestra (led by LAMusArt alumna Maira Solis) and the Music Outreach Partnership Program (led by Timothy Maloof) who opened the concert with classic folk songs and pieces by Bach and Beethoven.
Following the MOPP and Junior Orchestra performances, remarks were made by Executive Director, Manuel Prieto, in honor of LAMusArt’s Creative Paths In Leadership Award recipient and former YPAB Chair, Jasmine Ako. The award recognizes individuals who have contributed to the LAMusArt community by widening access to arts education and creating new avenues of support for the school. Ako first became involved with LAMusArt as a Riordan Leadership Institute Fellow in 2014, and shortly after became one of the founding members of the YPAB.
Ako spoke about how music education changed her life, her time as a YPAB member, and her future plans to pursue an MBA at Yale University in the fall.
“I’ve been involved with many different nonprofits and organizations over the years, but the level of dedication, competence, and creativity of LAMusArt staff and board members, built upon a shared passion for arts education, is unparalleled,” said Ako.
The concert continued with lively performances by the Youth Orchestra, the Choir, and guest artist, Brenna Bloom. Highlights of the show included Bloom’s duet of “Wondering” from The Bridges of Madison County with LAMusArt student Adriana Ortega, and LAMusArt Choir star, Azucena Ortega’s rendition of “Middle of a Moment” from James and the Giant Peach.
The evening culminated in a lovely post-show reception catered by Crepes and Grapes Cafe where guests dined, drank, and socialized in celebration of a fabulous performance.
LAMusArt is tremendously grateful to all who attended the performance, and we hope to see you at the next one at our annual Stars for the Arts Benefit Dinner at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel on Saturday, September 23rd.
We’d also like to thank our sponsors Crepes and Grapes Cafe, Smart & Final, and El Super, the East Los Angeles College, and our generous volunteers from Bank of the West.
For more information and fun facts about the songs you heard at the Broadway Spring Concert, click here!
For full set of pictures by CBGRAPHY, visit our Facebook album.
For more information on tuition-free programs, learn more here!
Azucena sings Middle of a Moment
Laura sings Anyone Can Whistle
Austin Chanu, Music Ensemble Director
Choir and Orchestra
Full Ensemble
Brenna Bloom, Guest Artist
Ms. Bloom and Mr. Chanu
Executive Director Manuel Prieto and Jasmine Ako
The Bloom and Improta Families