Teaching Artist

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s mission is to enrich and connect our community through intimate and transformative musical experiences which exemplify and foster artistic excellence, education and innovation.

At the heart of LACO’s Learning Programs is a commitment to make high-quality music education accessible, engaging, and meaningful for students of all ages in our local communities. We are rooted in the belief that music education should inspire creativity, curiosity, and connection. Our programs are designed to meet students where they are, building musical literacy, confidence, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts.

The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1968 as an artistic outlet for the film and record studios’ most gifted musicians. The Orchestra’s artistic founder, cellist James Arkatov, envisioned an ensemble that would allow these conservatory-trained players to balance studio work and teaching with pure artistic collaboration at the highest level. With the financial backing of philanthropist Richard Colburn and managerial expertise from attorney Joseph Troy, who also became the Orchestra’s first president, LACO presented its first performances in the fall of 1969. Since then, the 40-member Orchestra has earned a reputation as one of the foremost ensembles of its kind in the world and has been hailed as “America’s finest chamber orchestra” by respected music critic Jim Svejda of KUSC. The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra believes that classical music is a joy to be shared by everyone. Through its Meet the Music program, LACO reaches thousands of elementary school students, most of whom have never experienced a classical concert before, and through Neighborhood Concerts, the Orchestra provides opportunities for new and underserved audiences to develop a love for orchestral music and performance.

The LACO Teaching Artist cohort is a vibrant community of composers, performers, and educators who bring music to life for students across Los Angeles County through accessible and engaging music curricula. Selected by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra for their artistic excellence and passion for education, LACO Teaching Artists are active professionals who are looking to further their teaching experience and expand their impact within and beyond the classroom.

Working closely with the Director of Learning, Teaching Artists will lead students in immersive experiences centered on active listening, collaborative learning, and creative expression. This is an opportunity to inspire the next generation while deepening your own artistic and pedagogical practices. LACO Teaching Artists are not only skilled musicians and composers, but also empathetic educators committed to equity, creativity, and community impact.

Our in-school residencies run in two semesters:

• Meet the Artists (Fall): a repertoire-focused program immersing students in concert repertoire and living composers

• Meet the Music (Spring): a composition-focused program where students create original works and explore individuality

Teaching Artists play a vital role in LACO’s broader learning initiatives, including participating in Family Days and mentoring students from the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA) and USC’s Neighborhood Academic Initiative (NAI).

• Engage with diverse student populations in grades 3-12 with curriculum varying from music appreciation, music history, basic music theory, and music composition

• Must be able to accept a minimum of five (5) classes per semester

• Facilitate hands-on activities in all aspects of music learning and creative expression

• Aid students in creating and arranging a composition of a piece of music approximately 1-2 minutes in length, to be performed at the final culminating concert

• Participate in professional development retreats and lesson planning sessions

• Collaborate with LACO staff, classroom teachers, fellow Teaching Artists, and LACO musicians

• Support student engagement during culminating events and field trips

• Act as ambassadors for LACO’s mission

• Participate in other LACO events and collaborations as Department of Learning representatives

• Bachelor of Music with emphasis in composition or related field

• Minimum of 1-2 years teaching experience or working with students grades 3-12

• Proficient in at least one instrument

• Expertise in using digital composition tools

• Knowledgeable in chamber and orchestral classical repertoire

• Reliable transportation to school sites across LA

• Excellent communication and organizational skills

• Willingness to work some evenings and weekends depending on classes, rehearsals, and events

• Must be able to transport supplies to location and occasionally lift up to 35 pounds

• Must satisfactorily pass a CA DOJ background check to work with LAUSD partners