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Music Changing Lives in LA

  • STUDENTS

  • 05.15.12
  • Posted by harmpro

Sir Simon Rattle on Harmony Project’s YOLA

Sir Simon Rattle, conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, recently led our YOLA orchestra at Disney Hall. Here is what he had to say about our program:

“I see the spirit of these guys on stage. They’re great kids anyway, but you just feel that there’s something that everybody is sharing and that they’re proud of, and they’re expressing themselves. And it can only make life better”
- Sir Simon Rattle

  • CONCERT

  • 05.10.12
  • Posted by harmpro

Sir Simon Rattle Conducts YOLA

Harmony Project’s YOLA orchestra had the honor of performing with renowned conductor Sir Simon Rattle at Disney Hall at the Youth Orchestra Festival on May 5, 2012.

From HeartOfLA.org:

The concert opened with the YOLA at EXPO Chamber Orchestra performing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor Finale, led by guest conductor Sir Simon Rattle, Artistic Director of the Berlin Philharmonic. At the conclusion of the piece, Mina and Diego, two members of YOLA at HOLA, presented Sir Rattle with a paper violin (the signature entree into an El Sistema inspired program). The presentation and spontaneous hugs brought down the house.

Our own student, Juliana, had this to say about the experience:

How many kids get the chance to say that they have performed on stage with Sir Simon Rattle? I can. Playing at Walt Disney Concert Hall with him was such an honor. I would have never known that I would have gotten the chance to do that ever in my life. I feel blessed to know that I had the competence to do so. Saturday’s performance was a life changing experience for me, and I know I would have never gotten that chance if it wouldn’t have been for Harmony Project. I am grateful to be part of such an amazing program.

Full article and slideshow at HeartOfLA.org

  • STUDENTS

  • 04.30.12
  • Posted by harmpro

Student Voices: Jamaiya Penn

Harmony Project welcomes guest blogger Jamaiya Penn:

My name is Jamaiya Penn. I am a violist and I have been with this program for four years. On April 21 our orchestras performed at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles for the YOLA Neighborhood Project day.

This concert was different because we got a chance to perform with the kids from the other YOLA site, YOLA at HOLA. We played Beethoven’s Ode to Joy while the kindergardeners and first graders sang along.

The audience enjoyed our performance so much, that we had to do an encore! The Neighborhood Project Day was fun and exciting and I can’t wait to do it again next year.

  • PRESS

  • 04.24.12
  • Posted by harmpro

Journalist Laura Diaz on Harmony Project

LA Journalist Laura Diaz visited our site at Frank Del Olmo Elementary this past weekend:

It was a thing of beauty to see these kids mastering instruments, reading music and delighting in their progress. There was love and structure in the classroom and the joy of achievement on the face of these students. This youth arts program gives kids a sense of purpose; raises self esteem; and builds good citizens.

Full Story Here.

  • STUDENTS

  • 03.19.12
  • Posted by harmpro

“What I Like About the Flute”

Leslie, a Harmony Project student, tells us what she likes about the flute.

From her teacher and Harmony Project Program Director Sarah Wass:

“Leslie actually auditioned for our program when she was 5 1/2 years old. She had learned to play piccolo at a family-run free music program in her neighborhood. Her older brother, Ivan, plays clarinet. We thought Leslie was a little young to start group classes at that time, but I started working with her one-on-one once a week while she and her mom waited for her brother during his clarinet class. Leslie enrolled in musicianship once she turned 7 and now is in Tara’s flute class at the Hollywood site. I still work with Leslie because she is a great student and her family is very committed and reliable!”

  • STUDENTS

  • 02.21.12
  • Posted by harmpro

El Sistema Founder at YOLA Concert

Harmony Project student Liliana Morales (in red) and El Sistema founder José Antonio Abreu after YOLA’s concert with Símon Bólivar Orchestra at the Cathedral of Our Lady of The Angels on January 30, 2012.

El Sistema is the hugely-successful Venezuelan music program that Harmony Project is in part modeled after.

  • PRESS

  • 01.12.12
  • Posted by harmpro

Univision covers Harmony Project

  • PRESS

  • 01.12.12
  • Posted by harmpro

TIME Magazine covers Harmony Project

TIME ran a story about Harmony Project’s YOLA orchestra and its roots in the highly influential Venezuelan program El Sistema.

“YOLA is also sought after because children find a caring staff that offers moral support and helps kids traverse the turbulent teenage years. [Harmony Project program manager Paloma] Ramos, for example, not only helps students flourish as musicians but also gives them feedback on the essays they write for their college applications…”

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2103335,00.html#ixzz1iQq7zec8

  • PRESS

  • 01.12.12
  • Posted by harmpro

Harmony Project on MSN Noticias Latino

MSN Noticias Latino featured Harmony Project in a recent article:
http://noticias.latino.msn.com/entretenimiento/articulos.aspx?cp-documentid=31776546

<a href='http://video.latino.msn.com/?mkt=es-us&#038;vid=ec4d7b6f-527d-48e8-8061-6731166ec986&#038;from=&#038;src=v5:embed::' target='_new' title='Maestros y padres destacan beneficios de la enseñanza de la música' >Video: Maestros y padres destacan beneficios de la enseñanza de la música</a>

  • VIDEO

  • 01.12.12
  • Posted by harmpro

Jam in the Van, Part II

Here are two more videos from our fruitful collaboration with Jam in the Van! This time, Harmony Project students teamed up with The Dustbowl Revival for two songs:


Old Joe Clark


Riverboat Queen

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Building healthier lives and communities through music