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.

Read the full story here: