Pauline Adamek
Get drumming!
Alliance of Black Orchestral Percussionists (ABOP) is hosting its 3rd Annual ABOP-in-LA in June, in preparation for their Smithsonian Folklife Festival appearance the following month.
Now an annual event, ABOP-in-LA is an immersive week of workshops, masterclasses, and performances that will take place from June 24 to 28, 2025, at the Beckmen YOLA Center, Inglewood. It’s an opportunity for ABOP protégés and percussion enthusiasts to unite and immerse themselves in the diverse world of percussion. ABOP-in-LA is open to anyone and the events are free all week long.
This year’s event is also a stepping stone for ABOP’s upcoming participation in the prestigious Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C., from July 2 to 7, 2025.
Raynor Carroll, ABOP co-founder, expressed his excitement about the upcoming event, saying:
“We’re super excited to have all our Protégés together for this year’s intensive! Rehearsing, traveling, sharing meals, and performing together is an experience like no other. It’s truly powerful and unique!
“I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to have all of our protégés together for this year’s intensive. The dynamics of rehearsing, traveling, sharing meals, and performing together inspire us to continue the work we are doing.”
During ABOP-in-LA, Protégés will learn from distinguished instructors, collaborate with peers, and engage in conversations about the future of percussion in orchestral settings.
Here’s what you can expect at ABOP-in-LA:
- Family Drumming Workshops: Hands-on, family-friendly drumming workshops led by Carroll and Protégés.
- Masterclasses: Instruction in timpani, snare drum, mallets, and full percussion section repertoire.
- ABOP Concert: A culminating performance featuring ABOP Protégés and the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA), performing works by Still, Ginastera, and others.
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to experience the power of percussion!
ABOP-in-LA is open to anyone and the events are free all week long. More information can be found here.
ABOP-in-LA 2025 Events – June 24-28, 2025
All ABOP-in-LA events will be hosted at Beckmen YOLA Center, 101 South La Brea Avenue, Inglewood, CA 90301.
*Parking is available in the city lot directly behind the center.
Masterclass I ㄧSelected Orchestral Repertoire for Timpani
Focus: Mozart’s Magic Flute Overture, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4
When: Tuesday, June 24, 7:00 PM-8:00 PM
Who is invited?: Open to all.
Register for FREE here.
Family Drumming Workshops
Focus: Learn the basics of call-and-response drumming and play rhythms as an ensemble. Each session will feature a different West African rhythm.
When: Workshop I – Wednesday, June 25, 2:00 PM-3:00 PM
Workshop II – Wednesday, June 25, 4:00 PM-5:00 PM
Who is invited?: Open to all, especially families.
Register for Workshop I for FREE here.
Register for Workshop II for FREE here.
Masterclass II ㄧSelected Orchestral Repertoire for Snare Drum and Mallets
Focus: Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10, Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty, Dukas’ Sorcerer’s Apprentice
When: Wednesday, June 25, 7:00 PM-8:00 PM
Who is invited?: Open to all.
Masterclass III ㄧSelected Orchestral Repertoire for the Percussion Section Focus: Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol, Ginastera’s Estancia
When: Thursday, June 26, 7:00 PM-8:00 PM
Who is invited?: Open to all.
ABOP Concert
Program: First half features ABOP Protégés performing percussion ensemble literature.
For the second half the Inner City Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (ICYOLA) joins the Protégés in works by Copland, Ginastera, and others.
When: Saturday, June 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Who is invited? Open to all.
Register for FREE here.
Please note, that the above events are FREE and open to the public at no charge.
Browse and register for all open events at ABOP’s Eventbrite page here.
Special thanks to ABOP’s Sponsors Batterie Music, Black Swamp Percussion, Cooperman, Insoundmallets, Majestic Percussion, Marimba One, Remo, Sabian, Vic Firth, and Zildjian for their generous donation of materials, instruments, and more.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival – July 2-7, 2025
The Folklife Festival will take place on the National Mall between Ninth and Fourteenth Streets and inside the Arts and Industries Building.
*Parking around the National Mall is minimal, please plan accordingly.
Wednesday, July 2nd
11:00 AM Family Drumming Workshop
2:00 PM Masterclass: Orchestral Repertoire
Thursday, July 3rd
11:00 AM Family Drumming Workshop
2:00 PM Masterclass: Orchestral Repertoire
Friday, July 4th
12:00 PM Family Drumming Workshop
3:00 PM Masterclass: Orchestral Repertoire 4:00 PM Discussion panel: Grads to Mentors
Saturday, July 5th
12:00 PM Family Drumming Workshop
2:00 PM Masterclass: Orchestral Repertoire
4:30 PM Cross program Percussion Workshop (ABOP + Camilo – Latin percussion Collab)
Sunday, July 6th
11:00 AM Discussion panel: Youth Voices in Music 2
12:00 PM Family Workshop
5:30 PM – 5:50 pm ABOP performance
6:00 PM – 6:20 pm ABOP + Mariachi Tesoro Collab
Monday, July 7th
11:00 AM Concert at the Main Stage 2:00 PM Family Drumming Workshop 4:00 PM Talent Show
Read more about the festival and details for attendance here.
About ABOP:
ABOP is a non-profit providing professional development to young and emerging Black percussionists seeking a career in symphonic percussion. Through comprehensive training and mentorship, ABOP prepares Black percussionists for the concert stage thereby changing the future face of symphonic orchestras nationwide.
Classical musicians of color rarely have colleagues who look like them. ABOP aims to promote social change by increasing the number of highly-trained Black percussionists. Regardless of age, gender, socio-economic status or geographic location, ABOP’s goal is to lift Black percussionists through a program of instruction, workshops, and performance opportunities.
Learn more about ABOP’s core philosophies, founding background, and history, go here.
About ABOP Protégés:
ABOP Protégés are members of ABOP’s Mentorship Program, open to Black percussionists of any age seeking training and support in pursuing a career in orchestral percussion. Students, pre-professionals, and professionals are prepared and guided to the next step in their musical careers by qualified and experienced percussionists in the field (ABOP Mentors). Program benefits are provided at no cost to Protégés.
Protégés are accepted each year on a rolling basis, pending program funding. Based on the Protégé’s skills upon entry, Mentors work with Protégés over time to develop the skills and focus required of professional players. ABOP will work with the Protégés’ current musical activities to complement and enhance their development. Protégés will be encouraged not only to learn, but to teach and mentor. The aim is to cumulatively grow a professionally trained cohort of Black musicians who can support each other and nurture newcomers.
An important focus of the ABOP Mentorship is to develop the whole person—not just a skilled musician, but a compassionate, well-rounded, and responsible individual, prepared for today’s tasks and tomorrow’s challenges. ABOP counsels and encourages the Protégés in fulfilling educational goals, and nurtures and models behaviors that are key to being successful both in life and work. To learn more click here.
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