On October 1st, the Los Angeles Philharmonic opened their 2026/2027 Walt Disney Concert Hall Season with an annual gala and performance. With inspiration taken from across America’s musical history, the program focused primarily on the legacy of Hollywood within compositional innovation, such as Bernard Herrmann’s “Scène d’Amour” from Vertigo. Beginning the performance with the LA Phil’s classic “Fireworks: A Celebration of Los Angeles,” the music reflected a city of creativity, energy, and extravagance.

Prior to the concert, drinks and hors d’oeuvres were served by Hope and Grand Events by Lucques in DTLA’s Blue Ribbon Garden, where guests could admire the novel lighting design on the Walt Disney Concert Hall’s facade. Attendees were then led into the concert hall for the program, which spanned classical, jazz, and film compositions, conducted by Teddy Abrams, the new Artistic and Executive Director of the Ojai Music Festival. Pianist Yuja Wang and Principal Clarinetist Boris Allakhverdyan joined the orchestra for select pieces. 

Five hundred Philharmonic patrons joined executives from LA-based cultural institutions and non-profits to raise more than 3 million dollars for the LA Phil and related organizations, including the Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA). YOLA, a part of the LA Phil’s Learning and Community Initiatives, provides young musicians with instruments and instruction, bringing equal music opportunities to all Los Angeles communities and demonstrating the importance of music in education. Not only does YOLA provide students the opportunity to perform in their community and in events around the world, but YOLA alumni have gone on to perform in celebrated spaces like the Hollywood Bowl and the Super Bowl Halftime Show. 

Guests ended the night with dinner and an after-party. Surrounded by gold-inflected decor on Grand Avenue, partygoers celebrated the upcoming season with remarks by LA Phil’s CEO Kim Noltemy and Gala Co-Chair Jason Subodtky. Attendees shared a meal by Savore Catering under the downtown night sky, with wine provided by Beckmen, Peake Ranch, and Mumm Napa. While select guests were brought to DATALAND, the first museum of AI Arts, others enjoyed the music of Novena Carmel, who mixed at the after-party in BP Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall’s open-air venue. As the concert hall approaches its 25th anniversary in 2028, attendees looked ahead to the future of the space, with plans to restore seats and continue its mission of stewardship in Los Angeles.