Join the Nation’s Largest Black-Majority Orchestra for a Night of Harmony
By Dolores Quintana
The Skirball Cultural Center is pleased to announce the return of the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA), the nation’s largest Black-majority orchestra, to its stage. This event, scheduled for Saturday, January 13, 2024, at 7:00 PM, will witness over one hundred musicians and choir singers lifting their instruments and voices in a musical tribute to commemorate MLK’s dedication to securing civil rights for Black America. Members of the chorus include singers from Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, and West L.A., some of whom are members of the Leo Baeck Synagogue.
Established in 2009, the nonprofit ICYOLA has been instrumental in transforming the lives and perspectives of young individuals in Inner City Los Angeles through top-tier music education. Focused on imparting the world’s great musical traditions, ICYOLA provides inner-city youth with opportunities to showcase their talents in the most prestigious arts venues across the LA community. The organization’s overarching goal is to equip its members for advanced studies and successful careers in music and related fields.
In addition to fostering musical excellence, ICYOLA emphasizes the auxiliary benefits of music instruction, including problem-solving skills, critical thinking, self-reliance, self-confidence, self-discipline, and the pursuit of meaningful purpose.
The event is a collaboration between the Los Angeles chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, led by Reverend William D. Smart, Jr., President, ICYOLA, with Charles Dickerson as the Conductor, and the Skirball Cultural Center. Together, they proudly present an evening dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Featuring a performance by the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, the program will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2023 with a rendition of “The Hill We Climb.” This piece is a musical adaptation of the 2021 Inauguration Day poem by Amanda Gorman, composed for orchestra and chorus.
The venue for this special occasion is the Skirball Cultural Center, located at 2701 North Sepulveda Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90049. Admission to this event is free, but reservations are required. To secure your spot, please call the Skirball Cultural Center at 310-440-4500 or visit skirball.org.
