Not one but two Los Angeles-based youth orchestras were featured as part of this year’s Super Bowl at the new SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Three days before the Super Bowl, the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA) made television history when it became the first full orchestra to perform on the annual NFL Honors Show. The show—aired live on ABC, ESPN+, and the NFL Network—featured the orchestra in pre-show performances of Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, William Walton’s Crown Imperial, and John Williams’s Superman March and Star Wars main theme. During the Honors Show itself, the orchestra played music by David Robidoux, who has composed for NFL Films. Founded in 2009, ICYOLA performs in venues throughout Los Angeles. On game day at SoFi Stadium, the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing” with gospel duo MARY MARY, conducted by Thomas Wilkins, principal conductor of the LA Phil’s Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. By the way, a few hours later the home team won the football game—in overtime.
