Celebrate 25 Years of Music: LA Youth Orchestra’s Anniversary Concert in Pasadena

The Los Angeles Youth Orchestra (LAYO) is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a concert on November 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena. This independent nonprofit group focuses on nurturing young musicians’ passion for music.

The concert will feature Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony, which reflects the composer’s suffering during Stalin’s regime. The program also includes the premiere of “Ruby Overture,” dedicated to Ken Ruby, as well as works by Bach, Mozart, Stravinsky, and original pieces by LAYO’s artistic director, Russell Steinberg.

Twenty former members, now professional musicians and others pursuing various careers, will join current members aged 8 to 18 for this special performance. Steinberg notes that this gathering allows these young musicians to connect with many peers who share their interest in classical music.

The Los Angeles Youth Orchestra began as a project with the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony before becoming a nonprofit around 2013-2014. Today, it draws talented young musicians from about 70 schools across Southern California. The concert will showcase selections from “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” highlighting the orchestra’s wide musical range.

Notable alumni performers include Jeremiah Calvin Youngblood, Heather Daughtry, William Ellzey, John Pisarro, and Ranya Stover, a UCLA senior. The organization maintains high musical standards through professional coaching integrated within its rehearsal structure.

LAYO recently expanded its reach, performing in Vienna and Prague. It plans to develop an elite ensemble to represent the organization.

Tickets for the anniversary concert range from $12.50 to $33.85. For tickets and more information, visit Los Angeles Youth Orchestra.