Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Fellowship

The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) Fellowship began in 2017 and is a multi-year program that engages members of historically underrepresented groups in western classical music ensembles with work for hire and professional development opportunities. Fellows spend several mutually agreeable weeks with LACO, including orchestral services, chamber music coaching and concerts, a recital, mock auditions, lessons, and teaching artist opportunities with through LACO’s Meet the Music initiatives and with the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA).

Additionally, Fellows lead the annual Freeways concert, a featured chamber music concert is held with the LACO Fellows and LACO musicians. The concert is a musical evening with community spirit that aims to foster new connections and music into intimate and accessible spaces around Los Angeles.

There is a $5500.00 annual minimum guarantee, and the program does not require the musicians to live in Los Angeles. Should a candidate choose to reside outside of LA County, LACO will provide travel and housing for the weeks in which the fellow is a resident artist.  The LACO Fellowship also provides financial support for participating musicians to take auditions and accept work with other orchestras. Fellows are compensated under the LACO CBA and are required to join the AFM as part of the program with any associated costs covered by LACO.

 

ARTISTIC OPPORTUNITIES

12 Orchestral Concerts
24 Orchestral Rehearsals
2 Chamber Concerts
4 Chamber Rehearsals
4 Baroque Concerts
8 Baroque Rehearsals
Freeways
Industry Night (once per cohort)

*per season, based on past seasons; varies by program need

Professional Development Opportunities

  • Mentorship from LACO Principals and Music Director
  • Mock Auditions
  • Offstage development and career tracking workshops
  • Open communication with administrative staff

Fellowship participant benefits

  • Annual minimum guarantee
  • Travel and housing
  • Professional Audition Support
  • Instrument Repair Support
  • Travel Supper for Domestic Orchestral Engagements
  • AFM Duties

 

LACO Fellowship made possible, in part, by a generous donation by Jane A. Lehman and Alan G. Lehman Foundation.

Alejandro Lombo

Alejandro Lombo is the newly appointed piccoloist of the Florida Orchestra, following an appointment as acting piccolo with the Kansas City Symphony. He performs regularly with leading ensembles throughout the United States and abroad, including appearances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center and the symphony orchestras of Detroit, Milwaukee, Fort Worth and London. Recent highlights include performances with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra’s residency at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and European tours with the Kansas City Symphony under Matthias Pintscher and the Philadelphia Orchestra led by Yannick Nézet- Séguin. A versatile musician equally at home as a soloist, chamber artist, and orchestral player, Alejandro was the winner of the 2023 Sphinx Orchestral Partners Auditions, the 2019 Yamaha Young Performing Artist Competition, and the Flute Society of Greater Philadelphia Young Artist Competition. He has appeared as soloist at the Aspen Music Festival, where he was also a Conducting Academy Fellow, performing Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 and Frank Martin’s Concerto for Seven Wind Instruments. As a member of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America, he toured extensively throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe. Committed to sharing his love for music, Alejandro has given masterclasses and coached young musicians around the world — from Israel and Costa Rica to his private studio at home. As a fellow of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, he performed throughout Los Angeles and worked with local schools, helping expand access to high-level music education for students in greater LA.
Originally from South Florida, Alejandro studied with Jeffrey Khaner at the Curtis Institute of Music where he earned his Bachelor's degree and at the Juilliard School for his Master's degree. He has also worked extensively with Erica Peel, Hannah Hammel, and Chelsea Knox.

Matthew Peralta

Matthew Peralta, a new Resident Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic specializing in double bass, is a rising star making his mark on the orchestral world. His time spent as a New World Symphony Fellow in Miami granted him the opportunity to work with numerous coaches and conductors from renowned orchestras around the world, as well as joining the roster of the acclaimed Nu-Deco Ensemble. A recipient of the Honorable Mention in the 2022 Sphinx SOPA Excerpt Competition and the Most Outstanding Instrumentalist award, Mr. Peralta's talents have been recognized and celebrated. He has performed with esteemed ensembles including the Seattle Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, The Florida Orchestra, Classical Tahoe, and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, the last two of which he proudly served as a diversity fellow. His journey began in the New York Youth Symphony, culminating in his first performance at Carnegie Hall during his senior year of high school. He continued his studies under Professor Timothy Cobb at Purchase College, becoming a 2018 Ambassador for the Double Stop Foundation, an honor that also brought him a prized Jacob Schmidbauer 3⁄4 double bass from the late 1800s. Following his time at Purchase, Matt earned his Master's degree at the Yale School of Music, studying with Professor Donald Palma. He has also had the privilege of honing his skills at prestigious festivals like Roundtop and the International Summer Academy in Vienna, learning from masters such as James VanDemark, Josef Niederhammer, and Jiri Hudec. Currently, Mr. Peralta performs on a Kolstein Carcassi model double bass ca.2000, generously on loan from his colleague and friend, Matthew Way.
 

Eder Rivera

Eder Rivera Acosta, a Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra oboe fellow and co-founder of HOPE (Honduras Oboe Project Education Inc.). He earned a master's degree and a Performance Studies Certificate from the prestigious Colburn Conservatory Los Angeles, California. Eder studied with the world-renowned principal oboist of the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Eugene Izotov as well as the entrepreneur and visionary, Mr. Mingjia Liu, principal oboist of the San Francisco Opera. He has debuted with the Los Angeles Opera, The Colburn Orchestra, New West Symphony, Modesto Symphony, Classical Music Institute, Music Academy Symphony Orchestra in Santa Bárbara, the Artosphere Orchestra Festival, the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Ballet Orchestra, and the New World Symphony. He also serves as the principal oboist of the Civic Orchestra of Los Angeles under the maestro, Anthony Parnther. He has won numerous awards and competitions, including the Bronze Medal at the 2022 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition as a member of the Sonarsix Sextet, SOPA Sphinx Orchestra Excerpts competition, First Place at the Texas Double Reed Society, MTNA winner Georgia State Competition and Southeast Regional Competition. He is the oboe winner of the Yamaha Young Performing Artists competition in 2018. Mr Rivera is a grant recipient of the Center for Innovation and Community Impact for his entrepreneurial spirit that serves the community. He received the 2019 - 2020 Senior Performance Honors award in recognition of all his achievements during his undergraduate degree at the Schwob School of Music, where he studied with Dr. Susan Tomkiewicz. He has appeared and has been featured as a special guest on newspapers and television programs in the United States and Honduras. As an active performer and speaker, Eder Rivera shares his expertise through masterclasses at Universities and Music Festivals, inspiring and guiding young students on their musical journey. Mr Rivera dedicates his time to furthering music education, particularly in North, Central and South America, and is committed to supporting oboe students through the HOPE foundation in his native Honduras. With training from renowned oboists and collaborations with esteemed conductors like Gustavo Dudamel, Stéphan Denève, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Ludovic Morlot, James Conlon, Yahuda Gilad, Rosen Milanov, Eder brings a wealth of experience to his performances and teachings. Eder Rivera began his musical studies at the age of 13 at the Escuela de Música Victoriano López in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. In his free time, he enjoys swimming, exercising, brazilian food, and coffee. Especially lattes and cappuccinos… Seriously, he really enjoys it!

Nicolas Valencia

Born in Houston to Colombian immigrants, Nicolas Valencia has performed on stages across the United States, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean. Nicolas has held principal viola positions with ensembles such as the Music Academy of the West, the Fantasmi Ensemble, the New Spain Baroque Orchestra, Thornton Symphony Orchestra, Thornton Opera Orchestra, University of North Texas Symphony Orchestra, and the UNT Opera Orchestra. Additionally, his musical engagements have also taken him to perform with the Capitol Ensemble, Salastina Chamber Music Series, Philips Collection Chamber Music Series, Canadian Brass Quintet, Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra, Richardson Symphony Orchestra, Abilene Philharmonic, McKinney Philharmonic, and the Downey Symphony Orchestra. Recently, Valencia was selected as a recipient of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Fellowship, and received the inaugural viola position in the Thornton Virtuosi Chamber Ensemble. He has also been selected as a finalist for the Keston Max Fellowship at the London Symphony Orchestra, performed the United States Premiere of Anna Thorvaldsdottir’s Sola, and has served as substitute violist at the New World Symphony. In addition to these engagements, Nicolas has made contributions as a guest recitalist and soloist. He has performed at notable venues such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Meyerson Symphony Center, the Colombian National Museum, the Sanctuary of Monserrate, the Colombian Consulate in Houston, the Occidental College of Los Angeles, the Dallas Hall of State, and Oklahoma City University. He has also participated in concert tours in the UK, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Bogota, Colombia. Valencia is a current graduate student of Yura Lee at the University of Southern California, and received his Bachelor of Music degree under the tutelage of Susan Dubois at the University of North Texas. Nicolas’s commitment to sharing his musical knowledge and skills extends beyond the stage. Growing up in a Colombian household, Nicolas brings a multicultural perspective to his musical endeavors. Since his youth, he has dedicated his time to music-related volunteering and teaching, and leading masterclasses on viola at institutions such as the National University of Colombia, University of Puerto Rico, Redlands University, and the Occidental College of Los Angeles. Nicolas has also served as a sectional coach for the Denton Youth Orchestra and a teacher for the Houston Youth Symphony Coda Program.

SUCCESSES FROM THE LACO FELLOWSHIP

Two recent successes through the LACO Fellowship include the appointments of both Ayrton Pisco’s (2018-20 Fellow) as a second violinist, and Alejandro Lombo’s (2023-26 Fellow) as the acting piccolist at the Kansas City Symphony. We’re so proud of how far they’ve come!