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When Yuliana Lagunas’s mentor first told her about the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA), she was skeptical.
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“I was hesitant because I was constantly made fun of throughout middle-school because of my Mexican accent and my brown skin, and I feared rejection, judgment, and isolation in this new setting,” she tells Teen Vogue. “But when I stepped foot into my first ICYOLA rehearsal, I felt a breath of fresh air. I received smiles and a warm welcome, and I saw the spirit of diversity and inclusion at work. I felt accepted and valued, the exact opposite of what I was used to experiencing in orchestra.”
Now an 18-year-old high school senior, Yuliana was recently appointed as ICYOLA’s new concertmistress. In that critical role, she not only serves as first violinist, but is tasked with tuning the orchestra before a concert, playing violin solos, and collaborating closely with the conductor, ICYOLA founder Charles “Chuck” Dickerson.
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Dickerson founded ICYOLA in 2009, preparing middle and high school students for advanced study in music. It’s now the largest orchestra of color in the United States, featuring between 80 to 120 people depending on the time of year. The orchestra performs at high schools, churches, and other community hubs around LA, holding their most recent season finale concert at the Frank-Gehry designed Walt Disney Concert Hall, home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Yuliana says her time in ICYOLA has boosted her confidence and social skills, as well as her musical abilities.
“I always wanted to establish myself as a leader for my ensemble, and now I feel the self-assurance to serve in that capacity,” she says. “I am now comfortable and proud in my own skin. ICYOLA is my second family.”
Check out photos from the 16th Annual Season Finale Concert below.
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