Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra to Reside at The Colburn School

The orchestra will be housed at the school’s Zipper Hall from the beginning of the 2025/26 season

Previously based in the Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA, for over 30 years, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) will be moving its Orchestral and Chamber programs to the Colburn School as of the 2025/26 season. 

The orchestra will reside at Colburn’s 430-seat Zipper Hall until fall 2027 when the new Terri and Jerry Kohl Hall will be built and opened. 

Designed by Frank Gehry and part of the current expansion of the school’s campus, the new hall will involve 1,000 seats and an in-the-round design aimed at creating an intimate experience between the performers and the audience. 

LACO’s upcoming projects led by Music Director Jamie Martín include commissioned world premieres by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Michael Abels, a new work by 2025/26 Sound Investment Composer Juhi Bansal, and Christopher Cerrone’s Double Concerto for Violin and Cello. 

The new season will also feature acclaimed guest artists such as Nicolas Altstaedt, Isabelle Faust, Amanda Forsythe, Richard Goode, Pierre Hantaï, John Holiday, Marc-André Hamelin, Coleman Itzkoff, Anthony Marwood, Anne Akiko Meyers, and Fazil Say. 

LACO will present its final concert in Glendale on May 10, 2025, featuring violin virtuoso Nemanja Radulović in Beethoven’s Violin Concerto.

“This partnership was inevitable — a natural evolution of a shared history and shared commitment to excellence, community, and preserving the timeless tradition of classical music,” said LACO’s Executive Director, Ben Cadwallader. “We are thrilled to perform in our new home at the exceptional Zipper Hall and be a part of the thriving cultural corridor along Grand Avenue.”

“Nearly 30 years ago, Colburn School was one of the first arts institutions to stake its claim on Grand Avenue, helping to usher in the arts renaissance in downtown Los Angeles,” added Sel Kardan, Colburn School President and CEO. “Similarly, LACO has been a cornerstone of the city’s cultural landscape for over 50 years. Now, two legacy arts organizations are uniting at an exciting time of growth. We are thrilled to welcome LACO to Zipper Hall, and soon to the Terri and Jerry Kohl Hall, which will be an extraordinary concert hall. With their intimate size, both Zipper and Kohl Halls are the perfect venues to experience the caliber of LACO’s performances.”

“There has never been a more important time for togetherness and music-making,” Martín expressed. “Our partnership with the Colburn School and the launch of our new season are rooted in connection—between our musicians, our audiences, our partners, and the greater community. Together, we will create inspiring performances while fostering the next generation of musicians, both in Zipper Hall and in the future Colburn Center, with its stunning new Kohl Hall as a cultural cornerstone. We welcome everyone to join us for an incredible season!”