The Alliance of Black Orchestral Percussionists (ABOP) announces the third annual ABOP-in-LA, an immersive week of workshops, masterclasses, and performances for ABOP Protégés and the percussion-curious public, taking place June 24–28. This year’s event also serves as preparation for ABOP’s upcoming participation in the prestigious Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C., July 2–7.
Program Highlights:
- Family Drumming Workshops: Hands-on, family-friendly drumming workshops led by ABOP instructors.
- Masterclasses: Instruction in timpani, snare drum, mallets, and full percussion section repertoire.
- ABOP Concert: A culminating performance featuring ABOP Protégés and the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA), performing works by Copland, Ginastera, and others.
While ABOP-in-LA is designed primarily for Protégés, ABOP welcomes aspiring percussionists of all levels—from students to educators—to attend the week’s free events.
To learn more about ABOP-in-LA, visit: https://abop.us/abop-in-la
For Folklife Festival info, visit: https://festival.si.edu/
ABOP-in-LA 2025 Events | June 24-28
All ABOP-in-LA events will be hosted at Beckmen YOLA Center, 101 S. La Brea Ave., Inglewood 90301.
*Parking is available in the city lot directly behind the center.
Masterclass I ㄧSelected Orchestral Repertoire for Timpani
Focus: Mozart’s Magic Flute Overture, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4
When: Tuesday, June 24, 7:00 PM-8:00 PM
Who is invited?: Open to all.
Register for FREE here.
Family Drumming Workshops
Focus: Learn the basics of call-and-response drumming and play rhythms as an ensemble. Each session will feature a different West African rhythm.
When: Workshop I – Wednesday, June 25, 2:00 PM-3:00 PM
Workshop II – Wednesday, June 25, 4:00 PM-5:00 PM
Who is invited?: Open to all, especially families.
Register for Workshop I for FREE here.
Register for Workshop II for FREE here.
Masterclass II ㄧSelected Orchestral Repertoire for Snare Drum and Mallets
Focus: Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10, Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty, Dukas’ Sorcerer’s Apprentice
When: Wednesday, June 25, 7:00 PM-8:00 PM
Who is invited?: Open to all.
Register for Free here.
Masterclass III ㄧSelected Orchestral Repertoire for the Percussion Section
Focus: Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol, Ginastera’s Estancia
When: Thursday, June 26, 7:00 PM-8:00 PM
Who is invited?: Open to all.
Register for FREE here.
ABOP Concert
Program: First half features ABOP Protégés performing percussion ensemble literature. For the second half the Inner City Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (ICYOLA) joins the Protégés in works by Copland, Ginastera, and others.
When: Saturday, June 28, 2:00 PM
Who is invited? Open to all.
Register for FREE here.
Please note, that the above events are FREE and open to the public at no charge. Browse and register for all open events at ABOP’s Eventbrite page here.
Photo of ABOP by Tom Keene/LAdigitalPhoto