Santa Monica Youth Orchestra

What Santa Monica Youth Orchestra does

Sounds Like LA (SLLA), operating the Santa Monica Youth Orchestra along with a portfolio of nine additional music programs, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2013 and headquartered in Santa Monica, California. The organization delivers tuition-free music education and free public concerts to underserved youth in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, addressing economic and cultural barriers to arts participation. Its program portfolio spans classical orchestra (Santa Monica Youth Orchestra, Westside Chamber Orchestra), mariachi ensembles (Mariachi Perla del Oeste, Mariachi Corsarios de SMC, SMC Mariachi Program), Balkan orchestra, Balinese gamelan, world music concerts, summer camp, and school-site programs at Braddock Drive Elementary, WISH Charter, John Adams Middle School, Santa Monica High School, New Roads, PS1, and St. Bernard High School.

The organization's core technology is its instructional and performance programming rather than a software or platform product. Delivery is built on a partnership infrastructure with UCLA Fowler Museum, Mount Saint Mary's University, Santa Monica College, the Da Camera Society, and multiple public/charter schools, which provide faculty, venues, and rehearsal space. Notable technical/operational components include intergenerational ensembles (the SMC Mariachi Program), a 'Path to Higher Ed' pipeline linking youth participants to university music programs, and seasonal concert series integrated with partner institutions (Fowler Museum, MSMU, St. Paul's Lutheran Church).

The business model is donation-funded rather than revenue-generating. All programs are provided free of charge to participants; operating support comes from individual donations, foundation grants (Herb Alpert Foundation, Ahmanson Foundation, Colburn Foundation), corporate sponsors, and government arts funding (City of Santa Monica, County of Los Angeles, California Arts Council, LACDAC). EIN 46-5733574 confirms nonprofit status. Donations are accepted via online form, Venmo, check, and stock transfers. The GTM motion is community- and partnership-driven: outreach via website, Facebook, email newsletter, and Eventbrite, with distribution through school-site programs and free public concerts.

Name

Santa Monica Youth Orchestra

Legal name

Sounds Like LA

Website

https://santamonicayouthorchestra.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sounds Like LA is a Santa Monica-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides tuition-free music education and public concerts to underserved youth in the Los Angeles area, operating a portfolio of classical, mariachi, Balkan, gamelan, and world music programs through school and university partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Music Education and Community Performing Arts

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Musical Groups and Artists (711130)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE), Music Schools & Conservatory Prep (Pre-College) (EDAMANAE)

Keywords

• Youth music education
• Community orchestra programs
• Tuition-free arts
• Mariachi ensembles
• World music education

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sounds Like LA delivers tuition-free music education programs and free public concerts to underserved youth in the Los Angeles area. Its portfolio spans youth orchestra, chamber orchestra, mariachi ensembles, Balkan orchestra, Balinese gamelan, world music percussion, and summer camp instruction, paired with concert series presented at partner schools, universities, and community venues. Participants receive ensemble training, performance opportunities, and exposure to a path to higher education through partner institutions.

Product overview

Sounds Like LA is a nonprofit organization offering tuition-free music education programs and public concerts to underserved youth in the Los Angeles area. The organization operates as a portfolio of distinct music programs including the Santa Monica Youth Orchestra, Mariachi Ensembles, Balkan Orchestra, Westside Chamber Orchestra, Braddock World Music Program, Gamelan Program, PS1 Music Program, Opus Summer Camp, New Roads World Music Concerts, and various school-based programs. The programs span multiple musical traditions including classical, mariachi, Balkan folk, Balinese gamelan, and world music, serving diverse communities throughout Los Angeles County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Santa Monica Youth Orchestra: A youth orchestra program providing music education to young people in the Santa Monica area, part of Sounds Like LA's portfolio of music programs.
• Westside Chamber Orchestra (WCO)
• Braddock World Music Program
• Balkan Orchestra
• Mariachi Ensembles
• PS1 Music Program
• Opus Summer Camp
• New Roads World Music Concerts
• WISH Charter Schools Gamelan
• St. Bernard High School Programs

Products and services

• Santa Monica Youth Orchestra A youth orchestra program providing classical music education and ensemble performance opportunities for young musicians in the Santa Monica area, offered tuition-free through the Sounds Like LA nonprofit.
• Mariachi Ensembles Mariachi music education program covering ensembles such as Mariachi Corsarios de SMC and Mariachi Perla del Oeste, providing tuition-free instruction in traditional Mexican mariachi music for youth.
• Balkan Orchestra Ensemble focused on Balkan and Eastern European traditional folk music, led by Marko Danilovski, providing tuition-free instruction in kaval, clarinet, and traditional instruments for youth participants.
• The Westside Chamber Orchestra A professional chamber orchestra delivering free, educational, and artistically exceptional concerts to the Los Angeles community, sponsored by Sounds Like LA and led by Music Director Brian Stone.
• Braddock World Music Program World music education program hosted at Braddock Drive Elementary School, offering percussion and world music workshops to elementary-age students as part of Sounds Like LA's tuition-free programming.
• WISH Charter Schools Gamelan Program Balinese gamelan program at WISH Charter School providing instruction in traditional Indonesian ensemble instruments on Mondays and Fridays, offered tuition-free through Sounds Like LA.
• PS1 Music Program Music education programming at PS1 (Paul Revere Charter Middle School) providing tuition-free instrumental instruction and ensemble participation for middle-school students.
• Opus Summer Camp Summer music camp providing intensive ensemble music education experiences for youth during the summer months, operated by Sounds Like LA.
• New Roads World Music Concerts Concert series featuring world music performances including rondalla, salsa, and other global musical traditions at New Roads School's Moss Theater.
• SMC Mariachi Program Intergenerational mariachi ensemble organized in collaboration with Santa Monica College (SMC), held on the SMC campus and representing SMC's first mariachi class.
• St. Bernard High School Program St. Bernard High School pep band, drumline, and choir program supporting athletic events, providing music for Mass, and performing on tour to HBCU colleges.
• UCLA Fowler Concerts Seasonal outdoor concerts held in collaboration with UCLA Fowler Museum's amphitheater, sometimes integrating themes from the museum's exhibitions.
• MSMU Women in Jazz Jazz concert collaboration with Mount Saint Mary's University featuring jazz vocalist Amber Weekes and other artists.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free music opportunities provided since 2013

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UCLA Fowler MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLLA holds seasonal concerts in collaboration with UCLA's Fowler Museum. Musical performances in the outdoor amphitheater have at times integrated themes from museum exhibitions.
• Mount Saint Mary's University (MSMU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLLA collaborates with MSMU on multiple projects including the 'Women in Jazz' concert series, mariachi programs, and hosts campus visits for youth participants.
• Santa Monica CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLLA's SMC Mariachi Program is an intergenerational ensemble organized in collaboration with SMC and held on the SMC campus. It is SMC's first mariachi class.
• The Da Camera SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcert production collaboration with The Da Camera Society, particularly for the Westside Chamber Orchestra performances at St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
• WISH Charter SchoolcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWISH Charter School hosts SLLA's Balinese Gamelan program, which provides instruction in the traditional ensemble instrument.
• Braddock Drive Elementary SchoolcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHome of the Braddock World Music Program, providing world percussion workshops and music education.
• John Adams Middle SchoolminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocation for Mariachi Perla del Oeste rehearsal sessions.
• Santa Monica High SchoolminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocation for Mariachi Corsarios de SMC ensemble rehearsals and performances.
• Virginia Avenue ParkminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocation for beginning violin classes and La Posada holiday celebration events.
• St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Santa MonicacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConcert venue for the Westside Chamber Orchestra performances at 958 Lincoln Boulevard, Santa Monica.
• New Roads SchoolminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHome of New Roads World Music Concerts program and Moss Theater venue.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Save The Music Foundation: National nonprofit advocating for music education in schools, including grant-making for instruments and programs. Comparable equity-in-music mission but operates as a funder/advocate rather than a direct instruction provider.
• Carnegie Hall Musical Connections: Carnegie Hall's music education programs serving underserved communities. Comparable arts-access mission but anchored to a major institution with substantially larger resources and national footprint.

Direct peers

• Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA): LA-based nonprofit orchestra program for underserved youth. Closely comparable in mission, geography, and orchestral focus, though SLLA's portfolio extends beyond classical into world music traditions.
• Midori & Friends: New York City-based nonprofit providing free music education to underserved public-school students. Comparable mission and tuition-free delivery model, though primarily New York-focused.
• Harmony Project: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing free music education to underserved youth, with a strong mentorship and college-pathway focus. Directly comparable mission and target demographic in the LA market.
• Community MusicWorks: Providence, RI nonprofit providing free, intensive music education to underserved youth with an emphasis on long-term mentorship. Comparable free-tuition, intensive-instruction model and equity-driven mission.
• Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA): LA Phil-founded program providing free orchestral music education to underserved youth across Los Angeles. Directly comparable as a tuition-free youth orchestra model in the same geography; SLLA's founder Shabnam Fasa previously taught with YOLA.
• The People's Music School: Chicago-based tuition-free music school serving underserved youth. Closely comparable tuition-free model and educational mission, though operating in a different metro.
• Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation: National nonprofit dedicated to music education access and instrument support for underserved students. Comparable mission around equity in music access; broader geography and a grant/instrument-donation model rather than direct instruction.

Others

• El Sistema USA: U.S. affiliate of the global El Sistema movement, supporting intensive ensemble-based music education for underserved youth. Thematically aligned with SLLA's ensemble-driven approach, though EL Sistema USA functions as a network/umbrella rather than a single direct provider.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SMYouthOrchestra
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/santa-monica-youth-orchestra

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Santa Monica Youth Orchestra