Tuesday, February 25, 2025 - Classical California KUSC, in collaboration with YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles, part of the LA Phil), presents “I BELIEVE: The Declaration Project,” a special concert commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, on Thursday, March 6, at 7:00 PM PT in the Edgerton Foundation Performance Hall at YOLA’s campus in Inglewood at 101 South La Brea Avenue.

“I Believe: The Declaration Project” is a national community transformation initiative led by pianist, activist, cultural catalyst, and KUSC evening host Lara Downes. Inspired by the long tradition of American music as a source of collective expression, the project is an invitation across the nation for young people to explore and express their vision of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, imagining our American future together.

The March 6th concert will feature music and conversation from Downes, who will collaborate with YOLA musicians. Students will also present their own reflections on the concepts of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, exploring the potential of the American promise.

Get tickets and learn more: https://www.laphil.com/events/performances/3654/2025-03-06/i-believe-the-declaration-project

In honor of Women’s History Month, the concert will feature works by the mid-20th century composer Margaret Bonds, who was based in Los Angeles, and Valerie Coleman. Coleman’s Umoja for wind ensemble was written in 2019. Umoja, meaning unity or togetherness in Swahili, embodies the spirit of harmony and connection.

A violinist from YOLA at Torres in East LA will join Downes for a performance of the Cantabile from Mahler’s Symphony No. 1. YOLA’s Camino Nuevo musicians will sing Eduardo Cota’s “Las Gaviotas,” again, with Downes at the piano, and the YOLA Inglewood Jazz Ensemble will perform John Coltrane’s “Blue Train.”

Lara Downes’ "I Believe" initiative has been an integral part of Classical California’s community outreach. The inaugural event at Watts Learning Center Charter Middle School introduced more than 400 students to classical works by American composers such as Amy Beach, George Gershwin, and Florence Price. In 2024, the initiative expanded to the Community Music Center in San Francisco’s Mission District, where nearly 100 students reflected on the Declaration of Independence and the potential of the American future. Through original compositions and personal statements, these young musicians shared their perspectives on life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, engaging with classical music in a deeply meaningful way.

Lara Downes is a longtime champion of American music, commissioning new works and celebrating historical narrative voices through her recordings, broadcasts, and NPR’s Amplify series. Her “I Believe” initiative amplifies the voices of young people, exemplifying Classical California’s commitment to sharing the inspiring power of classical music with children.

ABOUT CLASSICAL CALIFORNIA:

Classical California is America’s largest listener-supported public media organization for classical music, reaching 1.4 million monthly listeners worldwide. Classical California enriches lives and communities through its innovative on-air and in-person music experiences, making it accessible, entertaining, and relevant for audiences of all ages. Classical California broadcasts reach across California through ten (10) radio transmitters anchored in Los Angeles (KUSC) and San Francisco (KDFC) and also heard in Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Palm Springs. Listeners can tune in through traditional radio, streaming on kusc.org and kdfc.com, smart speakers, and mobile apps. Classical California is licensed to the University of Southern California, one of the leading research universities in the nation, with a respected commitment to classical music, arts, and the community. More info at ClassicalCalifornia.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CLASSICAL CALIFORNIA, PLEASE CONTACT:

Mikaela Duhs / ClassicalCaliforniaPR@shorefire.com

ABOUT THE BECKMEN YOLA CENTER:

The Beckmen YOLA Center is the first permanent home of the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles organization, part of the world-renowned LA Phil led by Gustavo Dudamel. YOLA was founded in 2007 as a way to engage and train area youth, ages 6 to 18, in the skills and discipline needed to perform instrumental music through a free musical education program. The LA Phil and its community partners provide free instruments, intensive music training and academic support to students from underserved neighborhoods, empowering them to become vital citizens, leaders, and agents of change. The Beckmen YOLA Center is the fifth iteration of the program. Disney Hall’s renowned architect Frank Gehry renovated the 18,000 square-foot building originally built in 1965 as a bank complex. He preserved the building’s footprint and façade while creating a convertible auditorium space for student performances. The project, which has emerged out of a close collaboration between Gehry, the City of Inglewood, and LA Phil Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, was made possible by a leadership gift from Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen.