The Los Angeles Philharmonic recently unveiled the architectural design by Gehry Partners, LLC, for its new Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Centre at Inglewood.The Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center will be the first permanent, purpose-built facility for Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA), and, in effect, will be the third venue for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, alongside Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the Hollywood Bowl.YOLA was established by the LA Phil in 2007 and is led by Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel. Currently serving more than 1,200 students in South L.A., the Rampart District, Westlake/MacArthur Park, and East L.A., YOLA provides free, high-quality music training and academic support. As the LA Phil begins its Centennial year celebrations this year in September, it aims to double the number of students that YOLA serves by establishing a permanent base for the program.The world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, who also designed the Walt Disney Concert Hall, has conceptualized the new Center as a light filled, flexible facility for performances, rehearsals, and classes, aiming to serve around 500 students from Inglewood and surrounding communities. When complete, the 25,000-square-foot, $14.5 million construction project will provide a gathering place for students from existing and future YOLA sites and music educators from across the U.S. and around the world. The center will also serve as the cultural resource for the people of Inglewood and act as the focal point of the LA Phil’s commitment to community engagement in the area.Frank Gehry said, “It’s a privilege for me to work with Gustavo to create a place where students can feel comfortable, secure, and welcome as they learn to express themselves through music. We hope that the building will become a center for the community to gather to hear performances of all types. I designed the Center to be a world-class instrument for the community, and I can’t wait to see how they use it.”Gustavo Dudamel said, “As a young child in Venezuela, I joined El Sistema and learned firsthand that music has the power to change people’s lives. Now the LA Phil is doing just that through YOLA. We know that our engagement with young people in our classes in the Rampart District or East L.A. is every bit as important as our involvement with the audiences in Walt Disney Concert Hall. In fact, one side of what we do is incomplete without the other. That’s why it’s so important to build this permanent home for YOLA, and why I’m so grateful to Frank Gehry for understanding the LA Phil’s hopes and the dreams of our students.”Click on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the project.http://www.blouinartinfo.com                       Founder: Louise Blouin   Read more