The Choir, the Jazz Ensemble, and the Orchestra perform under Conductor Mr. Austin Chanu.
The Los Angeles Music and Art School brought Hollywood glitz to East LA at the annual Spring Concert featuring LAMusArt’s Tuition-Free Music Ensembles. On Sunday, April 29th, family, friends, and sponsors of LAMusArt gathered to watch our young musicians celebrate the tunes of Hollywood film classics. The Mariachi Ensemble, the Music Outreach Partnership Program, the Choir, the Jazz Ensemble, and the Orchestra performed masterpieces from quintessential films like Back to the Future, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Singin’ in the Rain. The ensembles also debuted modern hits like Up’s “Spirit of Adventure” and “Someone in the Crowd” from the 2016 blockbuster La La Land.
The afternoon event began with remarks from former LAMusArt staff member and current YPAB member, Alisa De Los Santos, who introduced Maira Solis’s Mariachi Ensemble, the youngest of our five tuition-free groups. The ensemble performed traditional songs from Mexican films of yesteryear like Zandunga, Feria de las Flores, and El Ciclón.
Following the Mariachi Ensemble, the Music Outreach Partnership Program (MOPP) with KIPP elementary schools took the stage to premiere various tunes from around the globe. The ensemble debuted music from Morocco, Syria, and Lebanon to name a few.
The Spring Concert was not only an afternoon of entertainment, but a celebration of philanthropy. Every year, LAMusArt grants the Creative Paths in Leadership award to an individual who has distinguished themselves as a leader in the fight for arts education. This year, YPAB Chair Richard Graham received the award for his dedication to reinstating and sustaining the tuition-free Choir over the past three years.
“What’s most important, and what this honor represents is the heart, energy, and dedication of the audience to make the symphony, today’s symphony and symphonies for decades to come, a reality,” said Graham.
The concert ended with performances by the LAMusArt Choir, Orchestra, and Jazz Ensemble along with the MOPP Choir from Alliance Middle School #8. The large and lively ensemble doled out recognizable hits under the guidance of Ensembles Director Austin Chanu, and featured beautiful solos from LAMusArt veteran Julia Zayas and several new, young vocalists during the final half hour of the show.
At the end of the performance, Executive Director Manuel Prieto announced LAMusArt’s plans to renovate the East Los Angeles facility, which has been located on East Third Street since the late 1960s.
“After 73 years, LAMusArt will be undergoing renovations to its many classrooms to provide our students and Teaching Artists with improved teaching spaces. We are so excited to embark on this project,” stated Prieto.
The month-long renovation will upgrade almost every classroom on campus, including the upstairs visual art rooms, over 18 music classrooms, and the downstairs student restrooms. The project will also provide opportunities for supporters to become a permanent part of the school by naming a room.
The Spring Concert kicks off a busy season for LAMusArt with Camp MusArt, our summer music recital, and Stars for the Arts to quickly follow in the coming months. Check in with LAMusArt and what we have going on by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and by subscribing to our email list.
For photos of the Hollywood Spring Concert, click here. For more information on naming opportunities, email Tahnee Cadrez Freda at TCadrez@lamusart.org.