{"id":64295,"date":"2025-11-21T21:50:06","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T21:50:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/64295\/"},"modified":"2025-11-21T21:50:06","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T21:50:06","slug":"students-and-parents-protest-la-phil-decision-to-reduce-programming-at-east-la-youth-orchestra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/64295\/","title":{"rendered":"Students and parents protest LA Phil decision to reduce programming at East LA youth orchestra"},"content":{"rendered":"

This story<\/a> was originally published by Boyle Heights Beat on Nov. 21, 2025.<\/p>\n

Roc\u00edo Jimenez of East Los Angeles beamed with pride watching her 13-year-old daughter perform at one of LA\u2019s most iconic venues, the Hollywood Bowl.<\/p>\n

With fellow members of the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles, or YOLA, she sang \u201cHasta la Ra\u00edz,\u201d alongside Mexican singer-songwriter Natalia Lafourcade, with Gustavo Dudamel conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was incredible to see this blend of cultures, classical music and Latino composers,\u201d Jimenez said of the 2024 performance<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s great to see us in those spaces.\u201d Seeing an artist like Lafourcade work with YOLA students is proof, she said, \u201cthat there are ways and paths to achieve greatness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, the YOLA program at Esteban E. Torres High School, which was part of the performance, is facing cuts.<\/p>\n

This week, parents and students learned that the LA Phil is reducing programming at YOLA\u2019s Torres site, according to an email sent to parents. Programming will take place through Dec. 12, the email notes, adding that orchestra rehearsals for currently enrolled YOLA students will take place twice per week in January. \u201cWe will help place interested students at other YOLA programs,\u201d the email reads. Parents say cuts at Torres involve beginner programs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis decision comes as we assess how to best serve the Los Angeles community with recent economic challenges and shifts in funding for the organization,\u201d the LA Phil said in a statement to Boyle Heights Beat on Thursday. \u201cThe LA Phil is committed to continuing YOLA programs in East LA and expanding the program into other parts of Los Angeles.\u201d<\/p>\n

YOLA<\/a>, which was founded by the LA Phil, provides free instruments and ensemble training for thousands of young musicians who are 5 through 18 years old. The after-school program operates at sites across LA, including in Inglewood, Rampart District and Rampart\/MacArthur Park. YOLA at Torres serves 165 students who attend East LA area schools, such as James A. Garfield High School and KIPP charter schools.<\/p>\n

Families and community members call the announcement abrupt and urged the LA Phil to \u201cclearly and publicly address whether internal organizational pressures played any role in the decision to reduce programming at the Torres site,\u201d according to a press release with statements from parents.<\/p>\n

\u201cParents report being told that all instructors at the Torres site would be removed except for the conductors. Families fear that this is not simply a reduction \u2014 but the beginning of a dismantling of YOLA at Torres,\u201d according to the release.<\/p>\n

In the release, parents noted that cuts come at a time when communities like East LA are grappling with fear and instability due to immigration raids that began over the summer. YOLA, they said, has been a safe space. They emphasized that no other YOLA site in LA \u201cis being cut or reduced due to \u2018funding.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly Torres \u2014 the site serving East LA\u2019s predominantly Latino community \u2014 is affected,\u201d they said in the release.<\/p>\n

The programming reduction comes as staff at all YOLA sites filed for union representation with the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, according to the YOLA United Teaching Artists Instagram page.<\/p>\n

On Instagram, Yola United Teaching Artists<\/a> said that AFM Local 47 reached out to LA Phil management to notify them \u201cof our majority support for unionization at all YOLA facilities and asking them to voluntarily recognize and bargain with the union.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have reason to believe they learned about the organizing efforts through other channels,\u201d the Instagram post<\/a> read. \u201cUnfortunately, we believe that, in response to our unionization efforts, they took the punitive step of letting the TAs at the YOLA [at] Torres go,\u201d the post continued.<\/p>\n

The group said it filed for representation with the National Labor Relations Board as well as filing unfair labor practice charges against the LA Phil. \u201cThis is unlawful, and we will fight it together,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n

Carolyn McKnight, a former principal at Torres East LA Performing Arts Magnet, told the Boyle Heights Beat that she worked on bringing the program to the school. Losing it, she said, \u201cwill be a huge loss for arts education in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added that because of the program, students received access to tutoring, college application guidance and opportunities to travel to places like Seoul, Mexico City and London.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving free music instruction for kids from third grade through high school for any kid willing to show up with the full support of their parents \u2013 it is priceless,\u201d McKnight said via email.<\/p>\n

LA Phil Chief People Officer Emanuel Maxwell met with parents and students at Torres High<\/a> on Wednesday. Students held signs, declaring \u201cLA Phil: Don\u2019t Silence Us!\u201d and \u201cM\u00fasicos Si Capitalismo No.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKids love YOLA, and they can\u2019t stop us from going to our dreams,\u201d a young boy shouted into a microphone as he faced Maxwell.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur teachers aren\u2019t only our support musically and educationally, but they\u2019re there to help us mentally,\u201d another student said. \u201cYou taking that away from us, is taking away a support that some of us don\u2019t have at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Luisa Rios, a Garfield High parent whose son is involved in YOLA at Torres, was inspired to see youth \u201cfighting for something that they\u2019re passionate about.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey felt disrespected. You could see the emotion,\u201d she said. \u201cA lot of these students are pursuing higher education based on [wanting] to become a professional orchestra player.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for Jimenez, she is looking for solutions. \u201cWe were not given the chance to even fundraise,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe would love to just find a solution, to find a way where everyone wins, and honor the LA Phil\u2019s mission,\u201d she said. \u201cWe love the program. It\u2019s devastating.\u201d<\/p>\n