Sonja Einmen Rocks the Walt Disney Concert Hall

Our very own PCYO Rock Star and Student Leader Sonja Einem is a proud member of the Renaissance Arts Academy Orchestra and Choir. These guys are such a big deal, they were invited by The Los Angeles Philharmonic (otherwise known as "L.A. Phil") to the Youth Orchestra Festival. PCYO loaded up some vans, got excused early and made a pilgrimage to the Walt Disney Concert Hall to see them bring the house down! I know everybody likes to make a big deal about how cool the Walt Disney Concert Hall looks, but it still seems like a crumpled ball of aluminum foil to me!

The set was great, but the one song that gave everyone goosebumps? O Fortuna, from Carmina Burana. It was both haunting and beautiful.

I get goosebumps even listening to this intense version from Harry Potter. Check it out right HERE!

Bravo Sonja! ...Wait, is that you talking on your cell phone?!?!!?

Welcome Gustavo Dudamel!

You have seen his wacky hair on television and splashed across the pages of newspapers and magazines. His name is on the tip of everyone's tongue.

Who is he? Gustavo Dudamel!

What's the buzz? He came to Los Angeles!

Does this have anything to do with PCYO? Uh huh!

This classical music legend is now the head conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and you can see him live. But it's his YOUTH ORCHESTRA that's made him who he is.

Just like you, he was smart and started his music education early. He liked violin and composition. Then, In 1999, he was appointed music director of the Orquestra Sinfonica Simon Bolivar, the national youth orchestra of Venezuela.

That's right, Venezuela rules because they have a national youth orchestra. Don't you wish Obama would set that kind of system in place? Start writing letters!

Gustavo Dudamel worked closely with his youth orchestra and tuned them into such astounding performers, they toured all around the world! Don't you wish you could do that? Skipping your home-cooked brussels sprouts for pizza...in Italy! For sushi...in Japan! For...well, you get the idea.

Gustavo Dudamel and his youth orchestra are a shining example of what we can be one day, if we keep practicing and remember to love what we do. Check out their unbelievable performance right HERE.

Welcome to Los Angeles Gustavo Dudamel!