Welcome to LA's COMMUNITY BAROQUE ORCHESTRA! Join us at our early music lab for community, professional and student musicians.
Fall 2021 Program Registration Open! Learn more>>
Artistic Director Lindsey Strand-Polyak and Managing Director Joan Lounsbery look back at 2020-21:
Dear LAB Friends and Angels—
I am sitting here on another lovely wonderful sunny Southern California summer afternoon, 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, fear, anxiety and darkness, 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.
On March 16, California shut down due to an ominous pandemic, and with it came the cancellation of LAB’s May concert plans. We went dark and mulled our options over the summer months. An “aha” moment arrived in late summer when Artistic Director Lindsey Strand-Polyak realized we had an opportunity to make use of the splendid courtyard at our home church, St. James’ Episcopal in South Pasadena.... READ MORE
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.
#earlymusicLAB
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
NEWS
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!
February 2020
As we gear up for our "Game of Tones" concerts for #EarlyMusicMonth in March, meet a man of many talents in our latest "meet a member" interview — Steven Pranoto!
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. A trio of LAB members played chamber music from Byrd to Bach, and LAB's co-directors also put in an appearance.
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.
October 2018
Meet a member! Meet a director! Founding artistic director Alexa Haynes-Pilon was featured in our interview series this month.
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.