Resources

• LA FINE VIOLINS
• La Forma Del Suono
• News/Events
• December 31, 2025

La Forma del Suono: A Celebration of Contemporary Craft and Sound

La Forma del Suono is an exhibition of contemporary instruments and bows by modern makers, offering musicians the opportunity to view and sample current work in a focused setting. The exhibition coincides with the opening of LA Fine Violins’ new space, next to the Colburn School in DTLA’s historic Grand Avenue Cultural District. Throughout the event, visitors may examine instruments at close range, meet select makers in person, and learn more about contemporary approaches to violin and bow making. On the evening of February 8, a salon-style concert will be presented by professional musicians, featuring instruments and bows from the exhibition. The performance is intended to provide context for how these instruments function in a concert setting. The event is open to professional players, collectors, educators, and others with an interest in contemporary instrument making.  Dates: February 7–10, 2026Location: LA Fine Violins, 225 S. Olive St. #101, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Accommodations:A special discounted rate is available at the Omni Los Angeles at California Plaza. For the promo code, please email admin@laviolinshop.com. Exhibition: Trial sessions are limited and available by advance registration only.Please reserve a session in advance to ensure dedicated time with the instruments and bows on display. We look forward to welcoming you to Los Angeles for this celebration of sound, craft, and contemporary artistry.      

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• December 22, 2025

Holiday Gift Guide

Looking for gifts that will actually get used (and loved) by that musician in your life? We've got you covered!    SoftNotes Toy    Soft Notes Toy is perfect for maximum snuggles and minimum practice guilt. Perfect for teacher, students, kids, and adults!   Wmute Practice + Performance Set    These Wmutes sound as great as they look. Treat the musician in your life with this deluxe set. This gift is perfect for those high-level players who need high-level equipment.    New Strings   Every player needs new strings, why not gift them that instant glow-up? There are so many new strings out there to try and experiment, with so help them out!   Boveda Humidity Packs    Maintaining humidity levels the type of TLC musical instruments deserve. If that musician in your life is looking to take better care of their equipment, then consider the Boveda Starter Kits.   Tuner/Metronome   If you're looking to help with focused practice, consider a dedicated tool for it! This combination tuner/metronome is a great choice for those who are getting more serious about their playing. 

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• Authenticate LA
• LA FINE VIOLINS
• News/Events
• November 11, 2025

Authenticate LA 2026 - Location Updated

The violin family has existed without much change since the 1500’s; it has seen the rise and fall of empires, brought to its highest form by master craftsmen, and subject to theft and duplicitous dealings. So when you look at the inside label of your violin, how can you be sure what you have is genuine? In January 2026, L. A. Violin Shop will be hosting its 6th Authenticate L.A. Event where a team of experts will examine your instrument and create a Certificate of Authenticity with accurate information. This event has proven to be a valuable resource for the Los Angeles community as many individuals were able to discover the true history of their instrument and secure necessary documentation for future dealings.  During authentication, three questions are asked:  1. Where was the instrument/bow made? (Countries/regions and cities) 2. What year was it made? 3. Who was the maker of the instrument/bow? The authentication experts determine the answers through a rigorous comparative study of design, model, wood characteristics, and varnish texture. This expertise is gained through examination of hundreds or even thousands of instruments, and there is no substitute for an experienced eye. The authenticators draw on years of unrivaled knowledge and expertise to offer authentication, certification, and valuation services that are recognized worldwide.  Beyond simply authenticating, our team of experts craft Certificates of Authenticity for your personal records. These documents are invaluable during appraisals, insurance filings, and for cosigning/selling the instrument. Furthermore, it can establish or trace the provenance (history of ownership) of the instrument, adding to its value or significance. These documents can be a critical aspect of ownership for those with vintage or professional level instruments. The event will be held January 22-24 at OMNI Hotel Governor's Room on the 2nd Floor (251 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90012). If you live out of state and wish to ship your instrument, send to our Koreatown location 3350 W Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90019 To receive a Certificate of Authenticity, please submit the registration form. We’ll contact you to schedule your appointment. Walk-ins are welcome for those seeking a verbal assessment of their instrument and will be accommodated as time allows. However, advance registration is recommended to secure your spot. For info, check out our dedicated website for this event!  -> authenticatela.com   Written by: Sarah Soza

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• October 1, 2025

Tips for Choosing the Right Orchestra

Use these tips to navigate our comprehensive list and find the perfect ensemble based on your goals and experience level: For the Aspiring Professional: If your student is aiming for a professional music career or is already in college/graduate school, look at the Pre-Professional category. These elite, tuition-free programs are designed for focused career training. For Developing Skills: Most students will fit into the Tiered Youth Orchestras. Look for ensembles with multiple levels (e.g., Concert, Symphony, Philharmonic) to ensure your player can join an appropriate group and grow into more advanced programs over time. For Beginners or Community Focus: If your priority is accessibility, community, or a low-pressure environment, focus on the Community & Open-Access Youth Programs. Programs often based on the El Sistema model (like YOLA or Boyle Heights Youth Orchestra) are excellent for beginners, are often free, and emphasize social development. For Adult or Volunteer Players: If you are an adult seeking a performance outlet without a career focus, the Community Symphonies (often all-volunteer) are ideal for continuing to play challenging repertoire. For Specialized Repertoire: The Chamber & Specialty Focus Orchestras are perfect for players interested in a specific instrument type (like Prelude String Orchestras) or a unique cultural mission (like Filipino American Symphony Orchestra). Orchestra Name Website Conductor/ Director Primary Email Primary Phone Number City/Area Category Beach Cities Symphony www.beachcitiessymphony.org Geoffrey Pope, Music Director inquiry@beachcitiessymphony.org 310-946-5421 Torrance Community Symphony Chamber Orchestra of The South Bay www.mycosb.org Hector Salazar, Music Director N/A N/A Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber Orchestra Ensemble Christo www.ensemblechristo.com Elliot Bark, Music Director Christianmusicfoundation@gmail.com (213)700-7813 Los Angeles Youth Symphony The Joint Music Program www.colleges.claremont.edu/jointmusicprogram David Cubek, Orchestra Director dcubek@scrippscollege.edu 909-607-3267 Claremont College/ Community Claremont Symphony Orchestra www.claremontso.org Dr. Robert Sage, Music Director claremont.symphony.orchestra@gmail.com (909) 596-5979 Claremont Community Symphony (Volunteer) Claremont Young Musicians Orchestra www.cymo.org Roger Samuel, Principal Conductor rjscymo@aol.com 909-­624-­3614 Claremont Tiered Youth Claremont Youth Symphony Orchestra www.claremontyouthsymphony.org Matthew Keating, Music Director claremontyouthso@gmail.com (909) 624-3012 Claremont Tiered Youth Colburn School Orchestras www.colburnschool.edu Margaret Batjer, Music Academy Director mbatjer@colburnschool.edu 213-830-4897 Los Angeles Community Youth Orchestra of Southern California www.cyosc.org Shawn Berry, Philharmonia Director staff@cyosc.org N/A Irvine Community Youth (Open Access) Lyceum Oaks Youth Orchestra (LOYO) www.loyo.lyceumoaks.org Alexander Michael Tseitlin, Director loyo@lyceumoaks.org N/A Newbury Park Tiered Youth Crown City Symphony www.crowncitysymphony.org Roberta Wilcox, Manager Manager@CrownCitySymphony.org 626-797-1994 Pasadena Community Symphony (Volunteer) CSUN Youth Orchestra www.csun.edu/csun-youth-orchestras Dr. Dean Anderson, Music Director csunyouthorch@gmail.com N/A Northridge Tiered Youth Diamond Youth Symphony Orchestra www.mydyso.online Dr. Colin Sprigg, Executive Director csprigg@mydyso.org N/A Walnut Tiered Youth Elemental Music www.elementalstrings.com Josephine Moerschel, Chamber Orchestra Director josephine@elmentalmusic.org (310) 220 0349 Santa Monica Filipino American Symphony Orchestra www.fasomusic.org Louie Ramos, Education Director Website Form 213-770-2807 North Hollywood Specialty Cultural Symphony Four Seasons Youth Orchestra did not Jorge Ruvalcaba, Conductor jorge.ruvalcaba@fourseasonsyouthorchestra.org 949-330-3317 Redondo Beach Specialty: Youth/Pro Glendale Youth Symphony www.glendaleyouthsymphony.org Dr. Adan Alejandro Fernandez, Music Director director@glendaleyouthsymphony.org 626-512-9109 Glendale Youth Symphony Glendale Youth Orchestra www.glendaleyouthorchestra.com Henry Shin, Music DIrector & Conductor glendaleyouthorchestra@gmail.com 323-839-8135 Glendale Tiered Youth Inner City Youth Orchestra of LA (ICYOLA) www.icyola.org Charles Dickerson, Founder info@icyola.org 213-788-4260 Los Angeles Community Youth (Open Access) Irvine Classical Players/ Seraphim Symphony www.IrvineClassicalPlayers.com Professor Georgette Popa, Founder irvineclassicalplayers@gmail.com 949-705-7539 Irvine Specialty/ Training Junior Philharmonic Orchestra of California www.jrphil.atspace.com Gary S. Greene, Concert Master audition@jrphil.org 323-272-3667 Los Angeles Youth Orchestra L.A. Korean Youth Orchestra www.koreanorchestra.com Dr. Jinshik Gene Chung lakoreanyo@gmail.com 323-243-6130 Los Angeles Youth Orchestra La Mirada Symphony www.lamiradasymphony.com Alan Mautner, Music Director & Conductor lamiradasymphony@aol.com 562-941-5779 La Mirada Community Symphony Long Beach Symphony www.longbeachsymphony.org Eckart Preu, Conductor info@longbeachsymphony.org 562-436-3203 Long Beach Professional/ Major Los Angeles Metropolitan Youth Orchestra www.layms.org Dr. Feng Hsiu Lee, Music Director conductor@layms.org 310-980-9907 Los Angeles Youth Orchestra Los Angeles Youth Orchestra (LAYO) losangelesyouthorchestra.org Dr. Russell Steinberg, Artistic Director LAYO@losAngelesYouthOrchestra.org 310-571-5296 Encino Tiered Youth Musique Sur la Mer www.mslmorchestra.com Marcy Sudock, Director and Conductor director@mslmorchestra.com 562-480-1344 Long Beach Olympia Philharmonic Society www.olympiaphilharmonic.org Fung Ho, Music Director and Conductor olympiayouthorchestra@gmail.com 626-447-5839 Arcadia Philharmonic Society Ontario Youth Symphony www.ontarioyouthsymphony.org Dr. Sylvia Lee Mann, Music Director ontarioyouthsymphony@gmail.com 909-235-9776 Ontario Youth Symphony Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra www.pacificsymphony.org/ps-youth-orchestra Carl st. Clair, Music Director psye@pacificsymphony.org 714-755-5788 Costa Mesa Tiered Youth Pasadena Community Orchestra www.pcomusic.org Bethany Pflueger, Conductor conductor@pcomusic.org 626-445-6708 Pasadena Community Symphony (Volunteer) Pasadena Symphony-Pops www.pasadenasymphony-pops.org Brett Mitchell, Music Director N/A 626-793-7172 Pasadena Professional/ Major Pasadena Youth Symphony Orch (PYSO) pasadenasymphony-pops.org/education/pyso Alex Chu, Director of Education achu@pasadenasymphony-pops.org 626-793-7172 Pasadena Tiered Youth Peninsula Symphony www.pensym.org David Cubek, Music Director email@pensym.org 310-544-0320 Rolling Hills Estates Community Symphony Philharmonic Society of Orange County Youth Symphony www.philharmonicsociety.org/education-community/orange-county-youth-symphony Johannes Müller Stosch, Music Director ocys@philharmonicsociety.org 949-553-2422 ext. 232 Orange County Tiered Youth Prelude String Orchestras www.preludestrings.org Annette Brower, Executive Director director@preludestrings.org 949-329-3147 Santa Ana Specialty/ Training Whittier Regional Symphony www.whittierregionalsymphony.org Faye Weber, Youth Artist Manager faycweber@gmail.com 562-698-8626 Whittier Community Symphony Santa Cecilia Orchestra www.scorchestra.org Sonia Marie De León de Vega, Conductor info@scorchestra.org 323-259-3011 Los Angeles Specialty Community Santa Clarita Valley Youth Orchestra www.scvyo.org Rachel Iba, Artistic Director info@scvyo.org 661-505-8338 Santa Clarita Tiered Youth Santa Monica Symphony www.smsymphony.org Pola Benke, Music Director info@SmSymphony.org 310-395-6330 Santa Monica Community Symphony Sounds Like LA www.soundslikela.org/programs/santa-monica-youth-orchestra/ Brian Stone, Conductor & Artistic Director info@soundslikela.org 310-985-3439 Santa Monica Tiered Youth South Coast Youth Symphony www.scysomusic.org Sarah Garbett-Lee, Manager sarahglee@scysomusic.org 626-272-8207 Laguna Niguel Tiered Youth Southern California Philharmonic www.socalphil.org Branden Muresan, Conductor & Musical Director info@socalphil.org N/A Yorba Linda Community Symphony Southland Symphony Orchestra www.southlandsymphony.com Dr. Sylvia Lee Mann, Conductor and Music Director info@southlandsymphony.com 909-235-9776 Ontario Community Symphony Southwest Chamber Music www.swmusic.org Jeff von der Schmidt, Founding Artistic Director mail@swmusic.org N/A Pasadena Chamber Orchestra Valley Youth Philharmonic Orchestra www.valleyphil.org Dr. Henry Shin, Conductor info@valleyphil.org 213-458-4618 Northridge Youth Orchestra Verdugo Young Musicians Association (VYMA) www.vyma.org Eugene Lopez, Program Coordinator vymacoordinator@gmail.com N/A La Crescenta Tiered Youth Westside Youth Orchestra www.westsideyouthorchestra.org Lowell Crystal, Conductor & Music Director westsideyouthorchestra@westsideyouthorchestra.org 310-820-1620 West Los Angeles Tiered Youth Young Musicians Foundation (YMF) www.ymf.org Walter Zooi, Executive Director info@ymf.org 323-987-0065 Los Angeles Pre-Professional Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA) www.laphil.com/learn/yola/youth-orchestra-los-angeles Amy McCullaugh YOLA@laphil.org N/A Los Angeles Community Youth (El Sisterna)

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• September 16, 2025

Should You Rent or Buy a Violin? A Guide for Students and Parents.

When it comes to starting a new hobby, the first step is to get the supplies. In this case, stringed instruments can have almost ludicrously high prices, making it daunting and unapproachable to the beginner. Most often, beginners purchase a cheap instrument from Amazon and lose interest after some time as the low quality woods fail to produce that coveted beautiful sound. Furthermore, when something breaks, most luthiers cannot fix the instrument because they were so poorly put together from the start. When this happens, we suggest patrons to start renting through the LAVS Rental Program. Renting The rental program is an affordable monthly option that brings high quality instruments to beginners. Our instruments are made from genuine European tonewoods, such as maple, spruce, and ebony, and hand-varnished to provide the player with a full and resonant sound. Additionally, our luthiers fit the instruments with a hand-carved bridge for optimal playability. We strongly recommend our rental program for kids; they’re constantly growing, always have shifting interests, and can be a bit clumsy at times. Our rental program accommodates their physical growth by providing free upsizes during the rental contract. If your child loses interest after some time, then you can simply return the instrument to us rather than searching for a buyer for the unwanted instrument. Finally, our renters are provided with a protection plan that covers minor mishaps. However, if the instrument is broken in half or mysteriously disappears from the school lockers, then the renter must pay the damages/loss.   The LAVS rental program also provides renters with a credit accrual system. Rather than a rent-to-own program, we save a portion of your monthly rental cost under your name for every month paid - indefinitely. When you decide it’s time to terminate the rental contract and purchase your very own violin, you can apply the credit as a discount to the cost of the instrument. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that the rental credit discount can only be applied up to 50% of the instrument’s cost, excluding case and bow.  By renting first, players are allowed the time to learn the instrument, improve their skills, and save up money before purchasing an instrument that’s not beginner-friendly, both in price and quality. This is one way we make higher quality instruments more accessible to those who need more support. A higher quality instrument can last decades and grow with the player, making it a worthwhile investment.  Buying When it comes to purchasing an instrument, our advice is this: buy the best one you can afford. For beginners, within the $700-$3k range, there is an immense difference in the quality of materials, craftsmanship, and most importantly, the quality of its sound. Rental instruments are an excellent way to begin your musical journey, while purchased instruments offer an even greater depth of sound quality and expressive range. It can be a bit of an upfront investment, but if you find yourself constantly drawn to the instrument, then it would have been well worth the cost.  We recommend purchasing an instrument to anyone who has been committed to playing and has some playing experience. It can be tricky to purchase an instrument when you’re a complete beginner because you have no frame of reference, no preferences, and are unable to take it for a test drive. We can help, but it’s better for you to be the final decision maker. When you come into the shop to buy, there will be a wide variety of instruments to choose from and the selection is always changing. If you don’t find one you like, visit again in a few months and your luck might be different.  With ownership, a different program becomes available to you: the trade-in program. This program allows you to upgrade your instrument as you advance in skill by trading in your current instrument, applying its value towards your desired instrument, and paying off the difference. To maximize your trade-in credit, it’s important to keep it clean through daily maintenance and be free of any damages.  Along with full-sizes, we carry fractional sized instruments for children. These high quality instruments will provide a better tonal color palette and give them a wider range of expression from the start. When your child grows out of their current instrument, then you can upsize and upgrade in one go with the trade-in program. When they reach a full-sized instrument, it's likely that you’ve acquired a high quality instrument through years of steady investment and ownership. Owning an instrument promotes a sense of responsibility and pride in young players, leading to increased practice time and better daily maintenance.  Our team is here to guide you every step of the way, answer your questions, and help you find the perfect instrument for your needs. Visit our shop today—we’d love to help you choose!   Written by: Sarah Soza

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