GRACIAS
GUSTAVO
A celebration of 17 years that transformed an orchestra and a city.
Revisit LA Phil history with maestro Dudamel.
US & Bowl Debut
Gustavo Dudamel, a 24-year-old Venezuelan conductor, makes his Los Angeles Philharmonic and US debuts at the Hollywood Bowl. The headline of the Los Angeles Times review proclaims, “He holds the Bowl in palm of his hands.”
Walt Disney Concert Hall Debut
Dudamel performs for the first time at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The Los Angeles Times headline states, “...this guy is the real deal.” The performance of Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra is released on iTunes the following month and by Deutsche Grammophon in July.
Music Director Designate
Dudamel is announced as the next Music Director of the LA Phil, succeeding Esa-Pekka Salonen.
YOLA Is Founded
Inspired by El Sistema, the music program through which Dudamel received his early training, the Youth Orchestra LA initiative, a collaboration between the LA Phil, the Harmony Project, and EXPO Center, a City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks facility, is launched. It would eventually become known as YOLA.
¡Bienvenido Gustavo!
Los Angeles welcomed Gustavo Dudamel with a free, daylong concert at the Hollywood Bowl, marking the beginning of a new chapter for music in the city.
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Inaugural Season
Dudamel set the tone for his tenure with innovative programming on our stages; deep community engagement through YOLA; and collaborations with a wide range of creative partners.
Americas & Americans Festival
Dudamel began to realize his vision of one American culture across continents through landmark festivals at Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl.
The Mahler Project
A herculean feat—Dudamel led his two orchestras, the LA Phil and Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, through all nine Mahler symphonies in both Los Angeles and Caracas.
Mozart/Da Ponte Trilogy
A groundbreaking operatic trilogy featured visionary stagings by world-renowned architects and exquisite costumes from top fashion design houses.
Super Bowl Halftime Show Appearance
Dudamel took YOLA to its largest stage yet, when he conducted an ensemble of young musicians alongside Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Beyoncé at Super Bowl 50.
Celebrate LA!
A daylong parade from Walt Disney Concert Hall to the Hollywood Bowl ended in a spectacular free community concert, kicking off a year of centennial celebrations.
Academy Awards Performance
Dudamel and the LA Phil made their Oscars debut, showcasing the orchestra’s deep connection to film music and its role in shaping the cinematic soundscape of LA.
LA Phil Centennial Concert
A monumental celebration of the LA Phil’s 100th birthday—Dudamel shared the stage with Conductor Laureate Esa-Pekka Salonen and Conductor Emeritus Zubin Mehta.
Gustavo Dudamel Honored with Hollywood Walk of Fame star
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has honored the distinguished conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Gustavo Dudamel with the 2,654th Star on the World Famous Hollywood Walk of Fame, in the category of Live Performance, on January 22, 2019, in Los Angeles.
CDMX Tours
In 2019 and 2022, Dudamel led the LA Phil and YOLA to Mexico City for electrifying performances that celebrated the deep cultural connections between Los Angeles and Latin America.
Beckmen YOLA Center Opens
A dream realized—Dudamel inaugurated YOLA’s first permanent, physical home, designed by Frank Gehry and serving hundreds of children and families in Inglewood and beyond.
Pan-American Music Initiative (PAMI)
An expansive five-year project amplifying the voices of artists from across the Americas, PAMI has commissioned more than 30 new pieces across dozens of concerts.
Fidelio & World Tour
In collaboration with Deaf West Theatre, Dudamel led a fully staged production of Fidelio, which broke barriers for Deaf and hearing audiences alike, in LA and on tour.
A First for Coachella
The Los Angeles Philharmonic, led by Dudamel, becomes the first major symphony orchestra to play its own set at Coachella. Over two weekends it seamlessly weaves together works by Bach, Strauss, Wagner, and John Williams with pop songs performed by an all-star lineup of guests including Laufey, LL Cool J, Natasha Bedingfield, Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, Dave Grohl, and Cynthia Erivo.
Don’t Miss Dudamel’s Final Season
Our 2025/26 season, Gustavo’s last as Music and Artistic Director, is a celebration. Not only of Gustavo, but of the music he and the orchestra have made together, of cutting-edge commissions they’ve introduced to the world, and of the incredible array of communities that make up the city we all call home.
Join Us in Saying Gracias Gustavo!