In 1919, a multi-millionaire and amateur musician established Los Angeles’ first permanent symphony orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Under the direction of Walter Henry Rothwell, 94 musicians brought from the St. Paul Symphony in Minnesota came together to perform at the Trinity Auditorium in L.A. The next year, the Orchestra built the Philharmonic Auditorium, which it called home for the next 44 years.
Today, under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel, the L.A. Philharmonic enjoys world recognition. In addition to its regular series concerts, the Phil offers free community concerts, which they post on their website, along with special concerts designed especially for young people. Toyota Symphonies for Youth, a Saturday-morning concert series, is geared toward children 5–11 years old. Before the concert there are many special activities for the kids. SummerSounds, a program that began in 1968, is a performing arts festival for youth at the Hollywood Bowl that takes place each summer. The festival, a six-week series from July to August, offers two concerts each weekday morning designed especially for kids 3–10 years old.
Los Angeles Philharmonic Information
- Public Transportation: Very Good (easily accessible by the Red and Purple lines at the Civic Center Station, as well as several buses and the Silver Line)
- Handicapped Accessibility: Good
- Performances/Programs: Over 200 performances annually
- Ticket Prices: Prices range from $24 to $195. Students and seniors with valid ID can purchase $10 tickets, based upon availability, beginning two hours prior to select concerts
- Group Discounts: Offered for groups of 10+
- Subscriptions: There are many options available for classical, jazz, contemporary, and world-music subscriptions, as well as a Choose Your Own option. There are also special discounts for students and seniors. Subscription tickets can be exchanged, subject to availability. Emergency ticket exchanges can only be made at the box office, up to 5 p.m. on the day of the performance you wish to exchange. Exchanges cannot be made on the day of a matinée concert. The emergency exchange fee is $10 per ticket
- Subscriber Benefits: Subscribers (except Choose Your Own patrons) receive a 20% discount on additional tickets for regular Los Angeles Philharmonic concerts, as well as other discounts for performances at Hollywood Bowl, subject to availability. Additional discounts are offered by local merchants and restaurants with an L.A. Phil subscriber ID Card
- Membership: Prelude Membership begins at $75 (tax-deductible). Benefits include a Friends membership card offering a 10% discount at the L.A. Phil and Hollywood Bowl stores and exclusive access to Friends helpline for inquiries about Friends membership and benefits
- Special Memberships for Families, Children and Young Adults: Junior Patron membership is an annual option at a cost of $75 for the first two children and $25 for each additional child. In addition to all the benefits your child receives, $58 of your contribution is tax-deductible. Benefits include a Junior Patron membership card with 10% discount at the L.A. Phil store in Walt Disney Concert Hall and at the Hollywood Bowl store; your child’s name listed in the Toyota Symphonies for Youth programs; a Junior Patron T-shirt; an invitation to a Meet the Artist event following the final Toyota Symphonies for Youth concert; an invitation to a Hollywood Bowl rehearsal (including refreshments); and year-round listing on the L.A. Phil/Hollywood Bowl website.
