Welcome to LA's COMMUNITY BAROQUE ORCHESTRA! Join us at our early music lab for community, professional and student musicians.
Los Angeles Baroque (LAB) is LA's only community baroque orchestra, directed by violinist Lindsey Strand-Polyak.
Started in 2016 by founding artistic directors Alexa Haynes-Pilon and Lindsey Strand-Polyak, LAB gives dedicated community, student and professional musicians from across greater Los Angeles regular opportunities to explore repertoire, learn baroque playing style (suitable for music composed c.1600-1750) and perform. LAB typically gives three main season concerts a year at its home of St James' in South Pasadena, hosts workshops, and undertakes community outreach projects and performance collaborations. LAB's goal is to encourage, support and expand the early music community in Los Angeles, and to be inclusive in reach to give all highly motivated players the opportunity to participate.
Visit our Programs page to find out more about playing and learning with us.
Artistic Director Lindsey Strand-Polyak and Managing Director Joan Lounsbery look back at 2020-21:
Dear LAB Friends and Angels—
I am writing with a heart full of gratitude as I reflect on the past 2020-21 season with Los Angeles Baroque. In a year full of uncertainty..., the courtyard at St. James’ Episcopal Church in South Pasadena has been filled with community, support, laughter and music. READ MORE FROM LINDSEY STRAND-POLYAK
Managing Director's LAB REPORT: 2020-21
Everything changed… in a moment.
March 7-8, 2020. Rich and wonderful collaboration! On this weekend LAB joined forces with its sister organization, Kensington Baroque, to play concerts in both bands’ hometowns of San Diego and Los Angeles.... READ MORE
Words from our audience
When I lived in upstate New York my husband and I went to the city several times for early music concerts, then when I lived in Washington, DC, I subscribed to the Folger Consort. When I moved to Los Angeles I was bemoaning the shortage of early music in LA until I heard about LAB. Some friends and I attended one of LAB’s concerts and were hooked—the wonderful music, the welcoming and comfortable atmosphere, and the introduction to composers we'd never heard before. A real find, and we're fans forever! —Chris Williams, concert-goer
HIGHLIGHTS
November 2021
LAB kicked off 2021-22 with an outdoor pop-up concert at St James' South Pasadena. Further concerts are planning in 2022. Meet a member is back this season — first up, theorbo-player extraordinaire, Ted Stern!
September 2021
Courtyard sessions are back! Visit our Programs page for details. Registration closes September 15.
March 2020
We were honored to be a recipient of an Early Music America Mini-Grant for our "Game of Tones" concerts in San Diego and South Pasadena earlier in March. Thank you, EMA!
November 2019
Meet artistic director Lindsey Strand-Polyak, in conversation with managing director Joan Lounsbery.
June 2019
Our first LAB:Fest! We held a weekend of concerts, a play-in, and socializing with wonderful music May 31-June 2. Stay tuned for more special events by subscribing to our newsletter on our home page.
May 2019
May 5 saw our first opera — Blow's "Venus and Adonis" — with a stellar cast.
March 2019
We were proud to be an EMM partner again this year. Our #EarlyMusicMonth performances included an outreach event at the beautiful John Muir branch library in South LA.
February 2019
A LAB viol consort performed to hundreds at LA's Natural History Museum on February 1st as part of "Night of Ideas" on the theme of climate change. Visit our gallery for a short video.
May 2018
Come Together! — LAB's first consort music workshop — was held on May 28, Memorial Day. We are grateful to The Viola da Gamba Society of America for supporting this event.
December 2016
"A breathtaking, furious performance". LAB's inaugural concert on November 13 was reviewed by Early Music America.
#earlymusicLAB