Performing arts organizations have, by necessity, cancelled or postponed performances and even entire seasons. Schools have had to go predominantly on-line with their teaching. But what would an orchestra do if one of their main priorities is to give student musicians a chance to play and perform with professionals? That’s precisely the challenge that Carlo Ponti, Music and Artistic Director of Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra, has faced during the pandemic.

Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra (LAV) has a mission statement that reads: “LAV’s mission is to serve as a catalyst in supporting music education through collaborative partnerships with the community, schools, agencies, and other arts organizations, and by allocating 100% of net income from performances to support and develop the study of music.”

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Los Angeles, Calif. – It’s been heartening to see how the city’s youth orchestras have forged ahead in such difficult circumstances. On Oct. 3, Carlo Ponti’s Los Angeles Virtuosi will be streaming their fifth season concert opener, following strict COVID-19 guidelines. And music director Russell Steinberg has been moving his L.A. Youth Orchestra outside for socially distanced, masked rehearsals in small student groups. In August, LAYO took 110 student musicians, placed them in 32 smaller chamber groups, organized 12 separate rehearsal locations in parents’ backyards, and brought in 12 professional coaches to lead the rehearsals. These rehearsals culminate in a virtual concert and competition on Dec. 13. Necessity, as they say.

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By MICHAEL AUSHENKER Staff Reporter

Conductor Carlo Ponti Jr. and Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra, the 22 string- piece symphony he founded, hit a crescendo last week to benefit select Los Angeles County schools, including one in the San Fernando Valley.

On May 23, Ponti performed Felix Mendels- sohn’s “Violin Concerto in D minor” at Theater Raymond Kabbaz in Los Angeles. The orchestra’s performances benefit music education by giv- ing 100 percent of net subscription revenues to schools such as Andrés and María Cárdenas Elementary School in Van Nuys.

The concert’s dress rehearsal, held the day prior, took place at Cárdenas Elementary.

“In Van Nuys, to see us rehearse, to see what goes into creating a performance, they also interact with the musicians,” Ponti told the Business Journal.

Ponti comes from an artistic family as the son of actress Sophia Loren and the late movie producer Carlo Ponti. Congressman Brad Sherman recently presented Ponti with a special congressional recognition certificate for Virtuosi Orchestra’s work in “supporting and developing music education in our schools and community.”

A resident of Studio City, Ponti has con- tributed to Cárdenas Elementary for the last three years. The donations helped purchase violins for the school’s music students.

This chorus class always starts the day with vocal warm ups. It’s an important exercise and chorus is one of student Kristen Duran’s favorite classes at Arcadia High School.

Music director Dr. Stephen Pu treats every rehearsal like a mini recital.

“They improve as singers during this time and then when they’re singing their repertoire, that’s when they can apply the technique they’ve practiced,” says Pu.

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