Harmony Project Gala Celebrates 23 Years of Los Angeles Community Service
May 19, 2024 - The annual gala luncheon was truly a memorable event where Harmony Project (HP) celebrated the talents of its young artists, acknowledged their dedicated supporters, and honored a very special recipient with the prestigious Banchik Humanitarian Award.
Board Chair Lisa E. Delgado Esq. presented the Banchik Humanitarian Award to the remarkable Michael Skloff, the creator of the iconic Friends theme song "I'll Be There For You". Michael has been a steadfast advocate for music education in the LA community and has played an instrumental role as a board member of Harmony Project. His successful career and ongoing commitment to our organization made him a deserving recipient of this esteemed award.
The gala was also an opportunity for Harmony Project to showcase the exceptional musical abilities of its young artists. Attendees were treated to a breathtaking solo performance by one of HP’s talented violinists, Jarod Watler, followed by captivating performances by the HP Symphony Orchestra and the HP Foshay Jazz Band.
In a special heartfelt moment, Michael Skloff himself took to the stage with his son Sam Skloff and nephew Simon Fox to perform an untitled tribute song to Harmony Project.
Throughout the event, attendees were reminded of the transformative power of music and its ability to create life-changing opportunities for young artists and their families. Our Chairman Emeritus, Howard Banchik, spoke passionately about the impact of music education and the importance of cultivating avenues to higher education for underserved children through the harmonious world of music.
"We were thrilled to be back at the Skirball Cultural Center celebrating 23 years of providing free music education and access to resources for students in under-resourced communities throughout Los Angeles," said Natalie Jackson, Executive Director of Harmony Project. "While weekly music lessons and free instruments to young people is not all we provide, through leveraging the universal language of music, we are also a space for solace, support, and a sense of belonging. I am immensely grateful to all of our supporters, as their generosity has allowed us to expand our reach and impact more than 47 school sites in 19 communities and over 4,000 students."
To ensure that we can continue providing year-round programming to communities throughout Los Angeles, we need your support. Your generosity will help us open even more doors of opportunity for our students and empower them to achieve their dreams. By nurturing their passion for music, we are not only enriching their lives but also strengthening our communities. Please visit our support page to make your impact felt!