Symphony Performs for Students From 4 Schools
More than 600 fourth- and fifth-graders clapped their hands to the lively music of the American Youth Symphony, which performed at a Huntington Park school auditorium Monday.
Thirty members of the Los Angeles-based orchestra played music ranging from Mozart to Michael Jackson for students from four schools at the Henry T. Gage Middle School auditorium.
“Instruments are so cool,” said Jesse Chavez, a forth-grader from San Antonio Elementary School. “I want to play the violin some day.”
Next month, the orchestra will team up with D.A.T.E. (Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Education), a Los Angeles school district program, for the symphony’s “Positive Alternatives” program, aimed at encouraging students to participate in musical activities as an alternative to smoking, drug abuse and gang influence.
Conductor Zain Khan said the orchestra, which includes musicians from local colleges and high schools, will perform monthly for about four district schools.
The idea for the collaborative program was conceived by Khan, 27, about six months ago.
The biggest entertainment stories
Get our big stories about Hollywood, film, television, music, arts, culture and more right in your inbox as soon as they publish.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
