Our mission is to change lives and build healthy community through the power of music...by providing children in the East LA area of Boyle Heights with free music lessons, free instrument loans, and mentorship. We are a community youth orchestra inspired by the successful Venezuelan social justice "El Sistema" orchestra program.

We believe that all children deserve the chance to learn music, express themselves creatively, and achieve educational success. The Boyle Heights Community Youth Orchestra provides music instruction and instrument loans, completely free of charge, to children aged six to twelve who live in the East LA area of Boyle Heights. Since instrumental and choral ensemble training have been cut from almost every public elementary school curriculum in Los Angeles, children are hungry for this knowledge and experience. Research studies demonstrate that early childhood music instruction increases both academic and social success. The bottom line is that giving children early music education gives them an advantage. We want to give that advantage to as many children as possible.

http://www.boyleheightsyouthorchestra.org