Art of Elan

Featuring a wide variety of composers whose new works collectively shape the soundtrack of our lives. From the spellbinding sounds of Juhi Bansalto the whirling folk melodies of Erberk Eryilmaz, this colorful program reminds us of our diversity, our shared humanity, and our ability to celebrate both.

Art of Elan’s popular downtown series returns to the Luce Loft with Downtown Sounds, an evening of thought-provoking new music that features the world premiere of works by Jory Herman (LA Phil bassist and composer) and Mason Bynes (multimedia composer), along with new music by trumpeter Steph Richards, drummer Andrew Munsey and others.

Art of Elan musicians premiere Young Artists in Harmony student works in this free community concert that additionally offers a complimentary reception and a chance to meet the composers and musicians who bring these new works to life.

Now in its 10th Season, Art of Elan offers each spring and fall its acclaimed “Young Artists in Harmony” (YAH) program in partnership with the nationally recognized A Reason To Survive (ARTS), an organization that believes in the power of the arts and creativity to literally transform lives. YAH consists of weekly workshops where high school and community college students have the opportunity to explore musical composition with professional musicians, to create and be part of a professionally recorded public performance, to meet and collaborate with other like-minded music students, and to build a musical composition portfolio. Participants in YAH receive weekly mentoring and coaching from professional Art of Elan musicians who workshop and provide feedback on student works. This unique program culminates each semester with a collaborative concert that showcases original compositions the students create over the 6-10 week period, performed by Art of Elan musicians. Each concert is professionally recorded and is available for free streaming and download on Instant Encore.

See a new musical work come to life during this open workshop of an Art of Elan commissioned film score written by composer Mason Bynes in 2023 in collaboration with interdisciplinary artist Danielle Dean, whose work draws from her multinational and multiracial heritage to explore the geopolitical and material processes that colonize the mind and body.