DOWNEY – The LA Phil’s Neighborhood Concert in Downey on Dec. 4 is one of the best recent examples of what the collaboration of local government agencies can do to expand quality arts experiences to their communities.

The LA Phil is recognized as one of the world's outstanding orchestras. Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel is leading the way in groundbreaking and diverse programming, onstage and in the community, that reflects the orchestra's artistry and demonstrates its vision.

The LA Phil presented this free concert in partnership with the City of Downey and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn. Downey’s Stay Arts presented their Ambivalence Art Exhibit in the theater’s balcony. The South Gate Museum had a pop-up art exhibit on the plaza. The SELA Cultural Center also had a booth on the plaza. Ushers distributed vouchers to the public for free LA Phil concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

In the planning stages is the SELA Foundation’s flagship initiative, the SELA (South East Los Angeles) Cultural Center, a world-class facility designed in collaboration with the community and led by local vision. When completed, the center will serve as a creative anchor for the region, providing arts education, performance venues, gallery space, and more. It will be an additional performance space for the LA Phil, and hopefully access for local nonprofits and artists.

The SELA Cultural Center is a partnership between the County of Los Angeles, the California State Department of Parks and Recreation, and the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy. The Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture has been identified as the operator.

Designed by the late Frank Gehry, it is a key part of a larger plan to revitalize the Los Angeles River, with Gehry’s company also involved in the county's master plan for the area. It is projected to be located somewhere in South Gate near the Los Angeles River

Gabriel Enamorado of Stay Arts is a member of their Advisory Panel along with Cynthia Fuentes, Vice President Community and Government Engagement, of the LA Phil. Fuentes is originally from South Gate.

In a casual conversation last spring she told Enamorado about their Neighborhood Concerts which are presented in partnership with a community host venue. She was interested in finding a SELA venue for Dec. 4. He told her about the Downey Theatre. They had never heard of it.

This prompted conversations with Mayor Hector Sosa, who was excited about the idea. Sosa assigned staff to implement the project. It’s not easy to make something like this happen.

Sosa says, “We had to keep this under wraps all year. It had to be a secret. I didn't want to spoil the surprise. I have to give a lot of credit to our city staff. the folks at LA Phil and the folks at Janice Hahn's office. They put a lot of work in collaborating and making this the successful event it was.

“l’ve been excited about this all year. I really wanted this to happen. I think at the end of the day, it's going to elevate the arts in the city of Downey. I think this is going to bring more attention to our own Downey Symphony.”

Sosa and Jason Chacon, Director of Parks and Recreation, hosted on-site meetings with the Phil in collaboration with the Downey Theatre’s VenueTech theatre manager, Kimberly Perkins. Perkins locked in the December 4 date months in advance.

Chacon says, “it was an honor to host the LA Phil. Their program is amazing. They are used to small auditoriums. We had a series of on-site meetings viewing the theatre, and determining technical requirements. They were excited to be able to build a bigger show in the theatre.”

The LA Phil brought some of their crew. The theatre crew did the set up and ran the show under the LA Phil’s supervisor. The LA Phil ran the hands-on sound. I have to say the sound was exceptionally crisp and brilliant.

When asked about future presentations by the LA Phil, Chacon said, “We are willing partners”, Chacon said. “They usually rotate the four venues for the Neighborhood Concerts around. But we have made it clear that we are willing to partner on any future community outreach showcases or performances.”

Mayor Sosa says, “I was really touched by the performance. I really enjoyed it. I was very pleased with the whole outcome. We talked about doing it again. When? We don't know, but I think we're all excited about this. I think the LA Phil really enjoyed the experience at the Downey Theater.

“I think this is just the beginning. I think this is going to open the door for us looking at other programs. To bring more attention to the city of Downey. I'm excited about it.”

Just so it’s clear to Supervisor Hahn, Mayor Sosa and the City Council, judging from the community interest, the audience’s response, and the excellence of the performance, we are all eager to have the LA Phil or other arts organizations of this caliber return to the Downey Theatre.

While we’re dreaming, let’s consider the Music Center’s CTG/Mark Taper Forum who have outstanding contemporary theatre community outreach programs, educational programs, performances, readings, and workshops. We haven’t had theatre in the Downey Theatre for over 10 years. This is a model for matched funding opportunities.

The Downey Civic Theatre, home to the Downey’s professional Downey Symphony Orchestra, is a perfect venue for the LA Phil. The initial design was by John Hume, director of Downey’s nationally recognized Children’s Theatre, and Civic Light Opera for which the theatre was built. Hume gave everything he wanted in a professional theatre to the architects.

The LA Phil was able to present this free event in partnership with Supervisor Hahn, who provided the financial support, and the City of Downey, who waived the rental and staff fees up to $10,000.

Stay Gallery, now re-birthed and rebranded as Stay Arts, became a community partner celebrating their 15th anniversary with their Ambivalence Art Exhibit in the upstairs gallery. Fifteen years ago Gabe Enamorado and Valentine Flores presented their first art exhibit in the Downey Theatre that resulted in the founding of Stay Gallery. Stay Arts has come a long way.

Enamorado explained that to confirm attendance, tickets were distributed to the LA Phil, the City of Downey, and Stay Arts. They, in turn, distributed and confirmed attendance with their community stakeholders. At a certain date, the unconfirmed tickets were made available to the general public at LA Phil links. They were gone immediately. There was a standby line at the theatre of about 50 people. They all got in.

Anthony Crespo, President of the Downey Symphonic Society, told me his perspective is that other Neighborhood Concerts have been getting smaller string quartets, piano trios, or piano quartets, not a real orchestra experience.

But Downey got a full string orchestra, conducted by Michael Sepúlveda, a rising Portuguese conductor who is a Dudamel Fellow in his debut with the LA Phil in the Downey Theatre.

We were welcomed to the concert by Fuentes, Kim Noltemy, President and CEO of the LA Phil, Supervisor Hahn, and Mayor Sosa. Hahn presented Noltemy with a county scroll in recognition of the occasion.

It was Hahn who recommended the Downey Theatre to the Music Center. A strong advocate for the Neighborhood Concerts, she expressed how difficult it is for families throughout Los Angeles County to make the trip to the Walt Disney Concert Hall to see the LA Phil. She attended with her granddaughter and you could tell they loved it.

Crespo is grateful that Mayor Sosa reminded the audience that the Downey Symphony Orchestra also presents free concerts in the Downey Theatre. He’s also hopeful that this high profile concert will encourage the public to attend Symphony concerts.

The Downey Symphony Orchestra is currently in its 67th season featuring professional LA area musicians from Local 47 of the Musicians Union under the gifted Music Director Sharon Lavery. It is an ensemble hailed as one of the best metropolitan orchestras in Southern California. Their next free concert is April 25, 2026.

Beyond her duties at the USC Thornton School of Music, Lavery has been a guest conductor for numerous orchestras, including the LA Phil. Committed to arts education, last March she conducted the LA Phil Composer Fellowship Program, a highly competitive program offered to gifted high school students who are interested in pursuing a career in composition. The program is led by one of today’s foremost leading composers, Andrew Norman.

On Tuesday, Dec. 16, Lavery will be conducting the brass and percussion sections of the LA Phil for a Holiday Brass concert.

Sosa says, “It gave Downey and SELA residents an opportunity to see a world-class orchestra. It was an amazing performance. It was terrific that they incorporated Downey's Lupita Infante.”

The special guest opening the concert was Downey’s Grammy Award winning Lupita Infante. She’s performed with the LA Phil before. Infante is part of a new generation of Música Mexicana artists, so deeply rooted in tradition that they possess the confidence and expertise to reinvent it in a modern way.

I've seen Infante a number of times. But here, with her band, and the LA Phil behind her, this was the most intimate, most personal, and touching performance I've seen her do. She is amazing.

The LA Phil is known to push the boundaries of contemporary classical music. We hear this first in its the world premiere of Noah Godard’s “Superbloom” commissioned by the LA Phil. His music often explores themes related to the environment, a connection apparent in the title "Superbloom." The precision of the musicians is remarkable and so it is with the acclaimed Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz’s “La Calaca."

**Supervisor Janice Hahn, Mayor Hector Sosa and Councilwoman Claudia M. Frometa.**

Ortiz revised and reimagined a 1997 piece in 2021 as a standalone work for string orchestra. “La Calaca" refers to the Mexican figurines of human skeletons, which are often laughing, dancing, and playing instruments in celebration of life and a joyous afterlife, particularly during Día de los Muertos.

Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings in C Major, Op. 48 is one of his most popular and enduring works, known for its rich melodies and blending classical and folk themes. Composed in 1880, Tchaikovsky considered it one of his finest compositions, writing it "from inner compulsion" and "from the heart."

Tchaikovsky instructed that "The larger the string orchestra, the more this shall be in accordance with the author's wishes."

Sepúlveda has his own style. He knows exactly what he wants from his musicians. He is precise. Arms reaching through the air for the very best, then down to a particular section and around to another. He is fully invested. He is with his ensemble. And they are with him.

From my view of the orchestra, I couldn’t help but be drawn to the faces and performances of the two cellists on each side of the conductor whose back is to us.

On one side was Robert deMaine, principal cello. He is an American virtuoso cellist who has been hailed by The New York Times as "an artist who makes one hang on every note." He has distinguished himself as one of the finest and most versatile instrumentalists of his generation.

On the other side was associate principal cello, Ben Hong. He joined the LA Phil in 1993, at age 24. Hong also performs frequently as a soloist and as a member of chamber music ensembles. He has collaborated with such artists as Emanuel Ax, Lang Lang, Simon Rattle, and Esa-Pekka Salonen.

Throughout the performances the faces of these musicians were captivating. Their faces reflected the emotions of each moment of each piece. Reaching for that particular note. Following the conductor. Looking at the sheet music. Listening. Eyes closed. Eyes wide. The caress of the instrument. The struggle to work the instrument for that sound. That moment of a brief smile knowing that something special had happened.

A genuine thank you to Supervisor Janice Hahn, Mayor Hector Sosa, and the City of Downey for bringing world class music to our community and to share a bonding unforgettable evening with each other. The arts build community.

The audience was captivated and enthusiastic throughout, culminating in a standing ovation.

The performance reminds us that the Downey Symphony doesn’t have the institutional funding or support structure of the LA Phil. This Downey legacy non profit community arts organization created and sustained by Downey citizens also deserves our support.

On Sunday, Dec. 28, at 3 pm, the Downey Arts Coalition (DAC) is producing a fundraiser for the Downey Symphony at the Epic Live on 2nd Street that is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

DAC is presenting Britain’s Finest: The Beatles Experience, the premier Beatles tribute band. Recognized nationally and internationally, this is a rare intimate Beatles Experience that takes you through the songs of the early 60’s pop through their subsequent sonic tapestries of love, life and revolution. Tickets are available on EventBrite.

LA Phil delivers world-class performance at Downey Theatre