2026 Black History Month: Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles to host free concerts

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Celebrate Black History Month in Los Angeles with free performances by the largest orchestra of color in the country.

The Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles inspires young lives through music education and performances at community venues.

ICYOLA will put on three concerts during Black History Month, with one on Feb. 15 at 4:30 p.m., and two on Feb. 28 at 2:30 and 5 p.m.

Founder, executive director and conductor Charles Dickerson explained part of their mission is to inform the world that people of color are active and talented in all genres of music.

“When people think of a symphony orchestra, they do not imagine in their mind’s eye a stage full of people of color,” Dickerson said. “That’s kind of how we came into being. There was no youth orchestra serving the community that we have the privilege of serving.”

Of the more than 80 participants in this season’s orchestra, Dickerson said 65% are African American and around 30% are Latino.

The orchestra program allows young people to build musical skills, but also to grow as a person.

“We also instill within the young people who are members of our orchestra the practices, values and virtues that one derives from good music education,” Dickerson said.

Problem-solving, critical thinking and self-reliance are just some of the lessons they hope students will take away.

ICYOLA’s 2025-26 season theme is “I, Too, Sing America,” honoring the enduring creativity and resilience of Black Americans that they said often goes unrecognized.

“We will be primarily featuring music composed by African American composers, including William Grant Still, Florence Price, Margaret Bonds and, in fact, even one of our own members of our orchestra,” Dickerson said.

The upcoming shows will commemorate 250 years of Black artistry, struggle and triumph through musical storytelling that everyone can enjoy.

“There’s so many contributions that have been made by our culture to the betterment and the uplifting of our society,” Dickerson said. “I want to focus and emphasize on the point that Black History Month is for everybody to celebrate and to participate in.”

Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles – Black History Month Events

Black History Month Celebration
Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, at 4:30 p.m.
The Ebell of Los Angeles
4401 W. 8th St., Los Angeles, CA 90005

Story of Us: The Black Experience in the Americas
Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
Los Angeles County Library Black Resource Center at the A C Bilbrew Library
150 E. El Segundo Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90061

Black History Month Concert
Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at 5 p.m.
Los Angeles Trade-Technical College in the E3 Culinary Arts Building
400 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015

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