ONE NIGHT. ONE MISSION. ALL IN.

Forty years ago, our visionaries believed LA County deserved a world-class public arts high school: The Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA). They were right. Now, it’s our turn. 

We are incredibly grateful to the almost 2,000 guests who joined us for LACHSApalooza, a benefit arts and music festival, with world renowned LACHSA alumni artistry at an iconic Los Angeles venue, the Greek Theatre. 

We are grateful to all of our sponsors, donors and LACHSA family! This 40th Anniversary celebration was a big undertaking for the LACHSA Foundation, and it was worth every moment because we believe LACHSA is worth every investment.

Help celebrate 40 years. Help guarantee the next 40!

Our online auction is live through June 8th at Noon PST and we invite you to bid on over 80 amazing auction items, luxury travel experiences, VIP sports or entertainment packages, and more! Help us reach these last goals to bring LACHSA to a place of abundance!

We are also extending our text-to-give campaign through June 30th. Just text LACHSA to 50155 and give any amount or donate online here.

Press and media relations are being handed by Grandstand Media. Contact Sarah or Nik to help us lift LACHSA’s story to the national level!

We are grateful for all of the press generated throughout this campaign to celebrate LACHSA and LACHSA Foundation’s 40th Anniversary! Here are a few outcomes:

What is LACHSApalooza?

DOORS OPEN: At LACHSApalooza, our doors opened at 5pm at the Greek Theatre where guests were immersed in the arts at this first summer festival! They enjoyed food, beverages, and all of the fun with activations in the plaza and interactive art, along with fine art from LACHSA student artists and more to be announced. Our sponsors and VIP ticket holders enjoyed private, hosted receptions with delicious cuisine, hosted cocktails, and entertainment!

MAIN STAGE: Starting at 6:30pm, on the main stage our guests were inspired by LACHSA’s world renowned alumni:

  • Anthony Anderson returned as our Master of Ceremonies  
  • Three-time Grammy-winning band Ozomatli
  • World renowned muralist Robert Vargas flew in from New York to paint live on stage and jam with Ozomatli!
  • Seven-time Grammy nominee pianist and composer Gerald Clayton
  • Multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated R&B star Jon B.
  • Multi-Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Gretchen Parlato
  • Representing LACHSA’s creative entrepreneurs, we also have presenting, Founder and CEO of Afro Unicorn, April Showers
  • Multi-platinum-selling LA soul-pop band Fitz and The Tantrums
  • As a special guest, LA native, Grammy-nominated rapper, music theory teacher, star of Paramount+’s Mayor of Kingstown, and classical pianist D Smoke also performed on the main stage with surprise guest SiR
  • Current LACHSA student artists representing dance, music, musical theatre, visual arts pop up gallery, and cinematic arts students creating a min-documentary on site

We also honored three teachers whose legacies have been inspiring, nurturing, and educating student artists at LACHSA for decades:

  • Ms. Pat Bass, aka Ms. B (in remembrance) LACHSA Gospel Choir Director This past November, the LACHSA family was deeply saddened by the passing of Pat Bass, affectionately known as Ms. B. She was a beloved LACHSA teaching artist, mentor, and cornerstone of our arts community. Witness in inspiration and passion of LACHSA’s Gospel Choir in this moving performance celebrating Ms. B’s legacy.
  • Ms. Lois Hunter, retiring LACHSA Theatre Department Chair Ms. Hunter has been teaching at LACHSA for 33 years and will be retiring from her position as the Theatre Department Chair in June.
  • Jerry Freedman, LACHSA Social Studies Teacher We cannot pass up a 40th Anniversary celebration without recognizing the dedication, passion, and legacy of Jerry Freedman. He has been teaching at LACHSA since 1986 and continues to mentor student artists at LACHSA. Watch this video with HAIM.

Artists are subject to change, because life.

Why Now? 

Now is the time to guarantee the next 40 years of a public high school that continues to graduate student artists who have discovered who they are, their place in the world, and how they can contribute their talents to humanity. Your support during this very challenging time is critically important. Your involvement will help keep this very special public high school’s free, conservatory style arts education possible for all its diverse student artists who are born to create. When you are 14 years old and that talented, this creative home offers career pathways, artistic greatness in five arts disciplines, and a public education that is worth every investment.

Only 50% of LACHSA’s Exemplary Arts Education Budget is Funded by the State.

Without the funding that the LACHSA Foundation provides, this exemplary public high school for the arts would not be able to exist, meaning outdated arts supplies and equipment, a decrease of conservatory arts classes, no career changing mentorships or Master Classes, significantly reduced performances, decreased teaching artists fostering every student artist’s education, and more. We cannot let that happen.

Now is the time. We also now face donor fatigue, the entertainment industry loss of jobs, impact from the Los Angeles County wildfires, federal volatility, and 50 years of a decrease in state provided public education funding.

This is a Call to Action. Your Support is Vital. Your Participation is Critical.

Who wants in on this culminating 40th Anniversary celebration?