El Sistema USA West Coast Regional Gathering: Los Angeles, CA

Supported by a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant, El Sistema USA (ESUSA) is pleased to announce the 2025 Regional Gatherings. This series of two regional events will bring together music educators, administrators, and students for two days of professional development, networking, and community engagement. This West Coast Regional Gathering will be held in partnership with YOLA (Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles) at the Beckmen YOLA Center on April 11-12, 2025.

Join us for an inspiring and action-packed regional gathering, where educators, program leaders, administrators, and Youth Ambassador Alumni (YAs) from the ESUSA network will come together to explore concepts to develop student leadership and wellbeing within equity-based music education.

This gathering will provide valuable opportunities to hear directly from youth in Sistema-inspired programs about their experiences and how we can better support their mental health and create holistic impact through programming. Expert-led workshops will equip participants with actionable tools to improve wellness—not only for students but for program leaders and teachers as well, ensuring a comprehensive approach to nurturing everyone involved.

Participants should plan to arrive Thursday evening, April 10, and depart Sunday morning, April 13. Sessions will take place all day Friday and Saturday.

• Program leaders and managers designing programs and curriculum
• Public school teachers looking to gain new skills, network, and learn about incorporating youth voice
• Teaching artists of El Sistema-inspired programs
• Music education students
• Youth advocates and mentors aiming to support and empower young musicians as leaders within their communities
• Administrators and policymakers interested in understanding the transformative impact of youth leadership in music education
• Community arts organizations looking to collaborate and implement El Sistema-inspired strategies in their programming.

Thursday, April 10

Arrivals - Hotel check-ins

Friday, April 11

7:30–9:00 AM - Networking Breakfast at Hotel (included)

9:00-9:30AM - Travel to venue

9:30–10:30 AM - Opening Session & Keynote

10:45-12:00 PM - Panel Discussion

12:00-1:00 PM - Lunch (Catered onsite @ Beckmen)

1:15–2:30 PM - Session 1

2:45-4:00 PM - Session 2

4:15-5:00 PM - Closing reflection

5:00-7:00 PM - Dinner on your own

Saturday, April 12

7:30–9:00 AM - Networking Breakfast at Hotel (included)

9:00-9:30 AM - Travel to venue

9:30-12:30 PM - YOLA Institute Rehearsal

12:30-1:15 PM - Lunch (Catered onsite @ Beckmen)

1:30-2:30 PM - Interactive Workshop

2:45-3:45 PM - Reflection & Action Planning

4:00-4:30 - Closing Remarks

5:30-7:00 PM - Cocktail hour (At hotel venue)

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen YOLA Center, 101 South La Brea Avenue, Inglewood, United States