Thanks & Testimonials
Amy Cartier (audience): We were privileged to attend Summer Concert 1 at Walt Disney Concert Hall this past weekend. Our primary purpose in attending was to watch our son – who is a member of Bakersfield College Chamber Singers – perform. However, we were absolutely blown away at the totality of the experience. From the amazing architecture of the building and the majesty of the pipe organ and stage, to the breathtaking talent of the young people on display…what an absolute treat!! The staff was also very courteous and helpful. Our attendant who helped us to our seats recommended that we check out the garden at intermission, and we were so glad we did! Altogether, this Summer Concert 1 was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Thank you!
Gerald Hsu (Parent of Ellie Hsu, violin; Presidio Middle School, 8th grade): Thank you for all you do supporting this program and musicians! The concert was magnificent and a reflection of the hard work, ambition, and love for music your team put into this. My daughter, Ellie Hsu, had a wonderful time and grew as a musician.
Luca Bowen (tenor saxophone; Benjamin Franklin Elementary, 6th grade): Thank you to the LAYP for this amazing experience! To be part of an orchestra performing at Disney Hall was a dream come true. I was one of the youngest musicians and really nervous but I was accepted, encouraged and taught by the other musicians, Dr. Chung, Dr. Buck, and the entire LAYP team. I learned so much. It was like a family. I can’t wait to be a part of this next year!
Allison Phan (piano soloist; Orange County School of the Arts, 8th grade): Thank you for granting me the opportunity to perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall last Saturday. For me and my family, sharing the stage with a marvelous orchestra at a beautiful, iconic concert hall was a dream come true.
I wish to thank everyone at LAYP for their warm reception and support. It was a great honor to work with Dr. David Buck and Dr. Gene Chung. The concert was an unforgettable experience and has been a very inspiring experience.
I will miss working with so many talented and passionate young musicians. Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, for this incredible opportunity.
Max Chen (cello; Foothills Middle School, 8th grade): I had a great time at LAYP, and enjoyed playing in the orchestra with all the other students. It was such a rewarding experience to learn and perform these famous pieces together. Thank you for guiding us and making music so fun and taking some of my skills to a higher level! That week taught me skills that will overall make me a better player.
Joan Son (Parent of Erin Han, flute; St. Angela Merici Parish School, 5th grade): It was truly an honor for Erin to perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall this summer with so many talented and dedicated young musicians. We are deeply grateful to Dr. Chung, Dr. Buck, the directors, and the entire LAYP team for giving Erin such a special and inspiring opportunity. She came home full of joy, saying how much she loved being part of this wonderful program. Thank you for creating such a meaningful experience that she will always remember!
Charlotte King (flute; Mira Costa High School, 9th grade): Thank you to the entire LAYP team for organizing such a fabulous concert on Saturday July 21 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall! Everyone sounded amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed all of the rehearsals and hearing how much we all improved every day. The LAYP community is so friendly and supportive of each other, I always enjoy my time spent with them. I am very much looking forward to future concerts this summer and continuing my musical journey with them throughout my high school years.
Mikayla Yen (flute, Diamond Bar High School, 9th grade)Thank you to LAYP for arranging such a beautiful event for us. I had an amazing time at the concert. I made new friends, met new people, and overall just had a good time throughout the entire week. Performing with LAYP at the Disney Hall was a great opportunity to perform somewhere on my own accord. I felt like I really grew as a musician. I’m very much looking forward to next year’s concert and spending more time with the amazing people I met.
Jennifer Fisher (parent of Zoey Fisher, choir, 5th grade, Collegewood Elementary School): Congratulations on a great show! I am so grateful and humbled for the opportunity given to my daughter to perform with the amazing LAYP choir, band and orchestra, especially to her teacher Dr. Garrett. I would never imagine watching her sing at the iconic and world class Walt Disney Concert Hall next to talented and stunning musicians this early on! She was so inspired that she started studying annotations, markings and phrasing on the music sheet. This was truly a great experience! We really appreciate the support, patience and kindness of the whole LAYP team. Thank you!
Evalyn Yu (violin, Palos Verdes High School, 9th grade ): Thank you LAYP for an unforgettable experience and concert! It was so rewarding to perform a diverse program, from Carnival Overture to Imperial March, in Walt Disney Concert Hall. This program always helps me grow as a violinist and reminds me why I love music. Again, thank you to all the conductors, professionals, interns, volunteers, and fellow musicians who made this program possible. I made so many memories and friendships and hope to be back next year!
Moonsung Fen (Campbell Fenn’s mom; Campbell, cello): I had the pleasure of attending Concert 2 last Saturday, where Campbell performed with her cello, and I wanted to sincerely thank you for such a beautiful experience.
The concert was deeply moving—our entire family was touched by the performance. We’ve attended many youth orchestra concerts over the years, but the LAYP concert stood out as something truly special. The talent of the young musicians, the thoughtful repertoire, the passion of the conductors, and the wonderful venue all came together to create a truly memorable evening.
We know how much dedication and hard work go into making something like this possible, and we’re incredibly grateful that our daughter had the opportunity to be part of it.
Thank you again, and we hope to see Campbell playing with the orchestra again very soon.
Piper Grossman (flute, 12th grade): Thank you so, so much for this incredible experience! I felt so much joy and honor performing these marvelous works of art at the Walt Disney Concert Hall among breathtaking architecture, powerful acoustics, and kind and hardworking musicians. It was marvelous to be able to create music with a group of talented musicians in an outstanding concert hall. To say the least, it was a massive honor. Thank you so much for allowing us this experience!
Erin Han (flute soloist; St. Angela Merici School, 5th grade): Last Sunday, I got the amazing chance to play a flute solo with such kind and talented musicians. Being on stage and sharing music with them was one of the happiest and most special moments I’ve ever had. Thank you to everyone who welcomed me so kindly and made this performance possible! I’ll keep this memory in my heart forever, and I pray that you will all always be healthy, happy, and blessed.
Ayden Kim (violin; Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, 12th grade): I am so grateful to perform in these wonderful concerts, even more grateful to be as a soloist for one! It was so exciting to perform at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and Zipper Hall, with everything, from the acoustics to the dedication to hard work coming together. I really felt I was helping others and also growing in my musicianship. Thank you LAYP for these moments I’ll never forget!
Demi Zeng (piano soloist; Chaparral Middle School, 7th grade): From the bottom of my heart, I am grateful beyond words to the LAYP Administration for giving me this opportunity to perform in the Walt Disney Concert Hall with the LAYPO. This was such a dream come true! It was so delightful to work with the LAYPO! Every single performer was passionate about music and supportive towards their fellow musicians. I cannot imagine how much effort the LAYP Team put into this event, from forming the orchestra in the very beginning to delivering a final, mind-blowing concert. It was an honor to work with Dr. Gene Chung and Dr. Amy Culligan. These two incredible master conductors nurture a phenomenal environment for young musicians to express themselves comfortably. Thank you for inspiring and uplifting me during this sensational experience!
Olga and Alexander Shechter (Parents of Julianna Shechter, 6th grade): Thank you so much for giving our daughter an amazing orchestra and band experience this summer. She’s been truly inspired by the opportunity to challenge herself and grow as a flutist through her participation in two LAYP concerts. The instruction she received from the conductors was superb, and seeing it all come together at Walt Disney Concert Hall and Zipper Hall was truly a magical experience for our family, and for Julianna. We’re so grateful for the time, effort, and passion you put into making this program such an incredible experience for all the students!
Bryce Biebesheimer (alto saxophone; Ethel Dwyer Middle School, 7th grade): Thank you for giving me the opportunity to perform alongside such talented musicians in the Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic. This wonderful experience really motivated me to practice hard and perform like a professional! Playing in the world famous Walt Disney Concert Hall was an experience like no other! I had a really fun time preparing for the concert and meeting new people along the way. I can definitely say that I improved as an alto saxophone player and as a musician this summer. I look forward to auditioning again next year. Thank you and the entire LAYP staff for all your support and hard work!
Ina Thomas (Liam’s Mom): Dearest Dr. Chung, I am so grateful for the heart and effort you and Mrs. Chung and the LAYP team put into making each concert such a successful and enjoyable musical experience for all the participants. For the past 7 years that Liam has been a part of the LAYP family, each concert has solidified the belief that LAYP is THE BEST youth orchestra in Southern California. Naturally, the students are very talented and clearly they work hard to prepare well. But I strongly believe that it is your leadership and vision that are the solid yet ever growing springboard which allows these young musicians to reach new heights with each performance.
LAYP has been Liam’s longest commitment and what he looks forward to each summer. It is also what I look forward to each summer because as a parent volunteer, I am excited to see a lot of the students returning and my fellow parent volunteers. It feels like a family coming home for the holidays 🙂 The end of each concert is always so exhilarating that it leaves everyone excitedly anticipating the next concert.
My final thought is that your VISION is so multi-layered that one can never outgrow LAYP. Graduates return to mentor, they learn leadership skills, etc. There is always a way to stay involved in LAYP long after graduation and into professional life as well. I look forward to seeing all the musicians grow and new young musicians experience LAYP.
Sarah Plank (William’s mom; William plays the violin) CONGRATULATIONS to you and the LAYP Team on the 2025 Summer Concert II and all three Concert Performances that you all put together. We absolutely thoroughly enjoyed Concert II and now the newly released videos. We enjoy every minute at the Disney Concert Hall and now Reliving that thrilling experience again by watching the videos. Such wonderful performances!
You and LAYP Team snd the hard-working kids made us the parents SO PROUD!
Outstanding job, Dr. Chung and LAYP Team! A tremendous Thank-You to all of you!!!
Your leadership, your passion for music, your love for these kids to grow them musically and guide them to become the best musician they aspire to be, and your abilities to orchestrate the talents and command the energies really shine through the concert performances. Impressive and inspirational!!! Thank you, Dr. Chung!!!
My son William Plank enjoyed every moment at rehearsing and particular at performing for Concert II. His face still lights up when he pulled us over to watch the newly released videos. He is so proud of having been part of your performing groups!! William had SUCH a wonderful time and learned so much, and this make us the parents feel so good. Precisely the kind of enrichment we strive to provide for the kids.
William is already looking forward to create music again the coming Summer 2026 season and we definitely will be there!
Thank you Dr. Chung and LAYP again for your outstanding leadership and guidance for these young musicians! You are SO wonderful!!!
Youth Philharmonic Orchestra | Band | Choir 