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.”