Let the music begin: LA Phil unveils YOLA’s innovative new Inglewood concert hall for youth
L.A. Philharmonic Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel and architect Frank Gehry are on hand to show off lavish new Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center. The center, just the latest arrival in Inglewood's development boom, is designed to provide young musicians with a dedicated space to learn.
Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel leads young performers on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 in a performance of “Made By and For the Future” during a grand opening ceremony in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
L.A. Philharmonic Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel and Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, center, prepare to cut the ceremonial ribbon on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 at the grand opening of the Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center on La Brea Ave. in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Architect Frank Gehry, left, and L.A. Philharmonic Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel participate in a Q & A session on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 during a ceremony in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
L.A. Philharmonic Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, right, and architect Frank Gehry participate in a Q & A session on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 during a ceremony in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
L.A. Philharmonic Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel participates on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 in the opening ceremony of the Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Architect Frank Gehry addresses the audience on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 at the opening of the Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
L.A. Philharmonic CEO Chad Smith speaks on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 at the unveiling of the Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Young performers kick off the grand opening ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 of the Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center on La Brea Ave. in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
From left, Thomas and Judith Beckmen, L.A. Philharmonic Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel and Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts appear on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 at the YOLA Center’s grand opening in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel leads young performers on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 in a performance of “Made By and For the Future” during a grand opening ceremony in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel leads young performers on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 in a performance of “Made By and For the Future” during a grand opening ceremony in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel leads young performers on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 in a performance of “Made By and For the Future” during a grand opening ceremony in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel leads young performers on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 in a performance of “Made By and For the Future” during a grand opening ceremony in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
A message to performers is visible at the artists’ entrance of the Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center which officially opened on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Architect Frank Gehry, center, and L.A. Philharmonic Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel participate in a Q & A session on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 during a ceremony in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Architect Frank Gehry, center, and L.A. Philharmonic Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel participate in a Q & A session on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 during a ceremony in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
With seating for about 270 people, the Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center was officially opened on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
With seating for about 270 people, the Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center was officially opened on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Designed by architect Frank Gehry, the Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center was officially opened on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Designed by architect Frank Gehry, the Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center was officially opened on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Designed by architect Frank Gehry, the Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center was officially opened on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Designed by architect Frank Gehry, the Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center was officially opened on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
On Saturday, Oct. 16, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra officially opened the doors of its Judith and Thomas L. Beckman YOLA Center — swiftly nicknamed the BYC — in Inglewood. The complex is the first permanent musical practice and performance space dedicated to the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles, and its debut marks a major milestone in the program’s 14-year history.
YOLA currently serves around 1300 students, aged 5 to 18, at four sites throughout Los Angeles county. The completely free after-school program offers its students instruments, intensive training and personal mentorship in the hopes of democratizing music education for students in low-income areas.
The YOLA program commenced in 2007 at the behest of LA Phil Music and Art Director Gustavo Dudamel.
As a child in Venezuela, Dudamel participated in “El Sistema,” a free music education program that later inspired his creation of YOLA in the states.
Dudamel, a vehement advocate of music education for all, called Saturday’s grand opening of the BYC a monumental step toward achieving his goal of providing music to any child who wants it.
“An orchestra is a community,” Dudamel said at the BYC’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. “In the moment of playing together you have to interact in a way to create harmony. It’s not only to be a good musician, it’s to be a better citizen.”
The BYC is situated in the heart of Inglewood’s civic and commercial center. The building’s striking glass facade offers passersby a glimpse into the grand Edgerton Foundation Performance Hall — as if to invite them in.
The 25,000-square-foot facility, transformed from a run-down bank and fast-food restaurant into a state-of-the-art music space by renowned architect Frank Gehry, was designed to foster a sense of welcoming to the people of Inglewood.
Aside from crafting a community space, Gehry wanted to build an awe-inspiring, professional quality facility for YOLA students to learn and perform in — something with, as he put it, “gravitas.”
With seating for about 270 people, the Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center was officially opened on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Inglewood. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
To achieve this, Gehry designed the Edgerton Foundation Performance Hall to exactly match the dimensions and acoustics of the cutting-edge Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles (also designed by Gehry).
“My simple idea was to lower the floor and raise the ceiling so we got the volume,” Gehry said. “So when the kids start playing, they feel it, and it gives it more meaning.”
The BYC, made possible by a $14.5 million donation from Judith and Thomas L. Beckman, is a product of close ties between LA Phil and Inglewood city leadership.
“It was extremely important that this building was for the community of Inglewood,” said LA Phil CEO Chad Smith. “We are so grateful to be here. We’re so grateful to serve the community.”
Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, during a short speech, said that Inglewood residents anticipated the opening of the BYC even more than they anticipated some major sporting events coming soon to the city, including Super Bowl LVI, coming to town on Feb. 6 at SoFi Stadium.
The city is enjoying an unprecedented development boom, with YOLA’s new center just the latest posh point on the map.
Not far away, the lavish new complex that houses the 70,000-seat (expandable to 100,000) SoFi Stadium sits on the former Hollywood Park racetrack property, adjacent to the recently refurbished Forum.
Fans tailgate in the SoFi Stadium parking lot in Inglewood on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021 prior to the Rams first regular season home game with fans in the new $5 billion stadium. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The arena cost $5.2 billion to build and is regarded as the NFL’s most technologically advanced stadium — and perhaps its most attractive. The arena has also hosted top-selling musical acts, such as the Rolling Stones, who performed there Thursday and return for an encore on Sunday.
The NFL’s Rams and Chargers played a full season at the stadium without fans in 2020, amid strict pandemic attendance limits, but have packed the huge “indoor-outdoor” facility this year with enthusiastic football boosters.
Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood (left), Mick Jagger (center) and drummer Steve Jordan perform during the first of two shows at SoFi Stadium as a part of the bands No Filter Tour in Inglewood on Thursday night, Oct. 14, 2021. Drummer Steve Jordan is playing in the place of the late Charlie Watts. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Fans walk outside the stadium prior to a pre-season NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, August 14, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
A worker cleans Lake Park outside of SoFi Stadium that is complete with restaurants, suites, premium spaces, bars, lounges and state of the art locker rooms is the home of the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams located on 298 acres of the former Hollywood Park and is the centerpiece of an entertainment complex built by Rams owner and Chairman Stan Kroenke in Inglewood on Friday, September 4, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Rams fans makes the LA symbol as he poses for a picture with a giant mural prior to a pre-season NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, August 14, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Los Angeles Rams fans enter the stadium prior to a pre-season NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, August 14, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
New Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford heads onto the field during pregame introductions prior to playing the visiting Chicago Bears at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021. The Rams host the Chicago Bears in the first regular season game to ever be played before fans in the year old $5 billion stadium. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The Rams have played just two regular-season games in front of fans at SoFi Stadium, but it’s already developing a reputation as a significant home-field advantage. “It’s a very loud stadium, one of the louder ones we’ve been in,” Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady said after his team was clearly affected by crowd noise several times during a 34-24 loss to the Rams. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Fans stand for the national anthem prior to the Rams playing the visiting Chicago Bears at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021. The Rams host the Chicago Bears in the first regular season game to ever be played before fans in the year old $5 billion stadium. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
SoFi Stadium, the home of the Super Bowl in February, is expected to add $20.5 million in tax revenues to Inglewood’s budget this year.
(Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer along with players Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, head coach Tyronn Lue, Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts Jr., Clippers consultant Jerry West and Clippers president of business operations Gillian Zucker pose with shovels during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Intuit Dome on Friday in Inglewood. The Clippers’ long-awaited, $1.8 billion, privately funded arena, a practice facility, team offices for both business and basketball operations, retail space, and more will all be on the site when it opens in 2024. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
An aerial view rendering of the Clippers’ planned 18,000-seat arena in Inglewood. The Clippers are holding a groundbreaking ceremony for the $1.8 billion, state-of-the-art Intuit Dome on Friday, with the team scheduled to begin playing home games there in 2024. (Image courtesy of the L.A. Clippers)
With a rendering of the proposed arena for the Los Angeles Clippers behind him, Clippers owner Steve Ballmer talks to a reporter during an interview with The Associated Press, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George and Jerry West attend a groundbreaking ceremony of the Intuit Dome, Friday, Sept. 17, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. The Clippers’ long-awaited, $1.8 billion, the privately funded arena is officially named Intuit Dome. The practice facility, team offices for both business and basketball operations, retail space, and more will all be on the site when it opens in 2024. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)
Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh performs at the YouTube Theatre in Inglewood on Saturday, September 25, 2021. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
VP of YouTube Brand Marketing Angela Courtin speaks to the media during a sneak peek of YouTube Theater, in Inglewood on Friday, August 6, 2021. The official ribbon cutting ceremony is Monday, Aug. 9 for the venue that will accommodate concerts, community events, award shows, comedy shows and more. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The YouTube Theater adjacent to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Friday, August 6, 2021. The theater seats 6,000 but the already intimate setting can be reduced to 4,400 or 3,400 capacity, using house reduction curtains. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The view inside the YouTube Theater adjacent to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Friday, August 6, 2021. The official ribbon cutting ceremony is Monday, Aug. 9 for the venue that will accommodate concerts, community events, award shows, comedy shows and more. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The view from the patio of YouTube Theater adjacent to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Friday, August 6, 2021. The official ribbon cutting ceremony is Monday, Aug. 9 for the venue that will accommodate concerts, community events, award shows, comedy shows and more. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The entrance of the YouTube Theater adjacent to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Friday, August 6, 2021. The 13X10 ft. Digital signage display o the YouTube icon allows guest to interact witty mirroring themselves on the screen. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Inside the YouTube Theater adjacent to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Friday, August 6, 2021. This two-story chandelier made of Kaynemaile architectural mesh from New Zealand hangs from the balcony level to the plaza. (Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Also opening this year, located at the southern tip of the sprawling roof canopy that also covers SoFi and the open-air American Airlines Plaza, was the 6,000-capacity YouTube Theater. It will host such events as concerts, awards shows, comedy sets, eSports competitions, community activities and conferences.
And in September, pro basketball’s Los Angeles Clippers broke ground for their new arena, the Intuit Dome, at at the corner of Century Boulevard and Prairie Avenue. The team has shared space at the Lakers’ Staples Center for years.
“Inglewood is a worthy destination,” Butts said. “Never would I have dreamed that this would be the center for culture in the great city of Inglewood.”
And now: The BYC.
The complex is not just a place to perform. It will be a place to learn as well. The center is equipped to host music educators, both virtually and in person, from around the world. The LA Phil hopes that the BYC will serve as a local and international touchstone for music and culture.
On Sept. 20, the BYC hosted its first ever classes.
Of the 130 students attending, nearly 81% were residents of Inglewood, according to Smith.
Once the building is fully operational, the program will host up to 500 kids — a majority of which are expected to hail from Inglewood.
Students interested in joining YOLA can submit an interest form here.
