Celebrating the Class of 2026!
Los Angeles, CA (June 13, 2026) - Harmony Project celebrated a momentous occasion with the graduation of 63 incredible high school seniors at the Foshay Learning Center in South Los Angeles. It was a day filled with music, tears, and pride.
The day overflowed with inspiration and hope for the future, brought to life through unforgettable speeches and performances:
HP graduates posing with Chairman Emeritus, Howard Banchik.
HP Staff with graduates.
A Moving Opening: Sophia, an 11-year Harmony Project student and this year's HP Concerto Competition winner, opened the ceremony with a soulful cello solo of Ernest Bloch's Prayer.
Words from the Heart: Senior speaker Brianna, who has been with Harmony Project for 13 years, moved the entire room with her speech. She reflected on her time at Harmony Project and recounted how she spent years sitting in the audience watching older seniors say goodbye and how surreal it felt to now stand on stage delivering those same goodbyes to the younger students she has mentored.
A Special Tribute: The Blackberry Project, an all-female ensemble led by one of our own teaching artists, Amanda Mora, performed a beautiful graduation medley arranged by Olivia Nava.
The Big Finale: To cap off the live music, our HP Conservatory Orchestra delivered two performances: Rossini's William Tell Overture, Allegro Vivace (arr. Erik Leidzin) and Bernstein's iconic Mambo from West Side Story (arr. Glyn/Smith).
HP Conservatory Orchestra performing in front of family and friends.
Class of 2026 Key Stats
100% high school graduate rate
98% college acceptance rate
87% of our graduates will be first-generation college students
Honoring Excellence
Chair of the Board, Lisa E. Delgado, Esq. congratulating a HP senior.
A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of certificates to the Class of 2026 by Chairman Emeritus Howard Banchik and Chair of the Board Lisa E. Delgado, Esq. Mr. Banchik shared heartfelt remarks about the graduates' journeys, while the seniors looked on intently, ready for the exciting chapters ahead. After the remarks, each graduate walked across the stage to receive their diplomas.
Harmony Project Executive Director Natalie Jackson also took the stage to present the Excellence in Teaching Award to Vince Womack. Mr. Womack was a long-time Los Angeles Unified School District music teacher, conductor and, amongst other notable achievements, a deeply cherished Harmony Project collaborator. Ms. Jackson spoke about Mr. Womack’s years of unwavering support and collaboration that have pushed forward our organization’s mission.
The Journey Continues
This ceremony was a powerful testament to the life-changing impact of tuition-free music education. From proud parents and families to the teaching artists who watched these talented young musicians grow, there wasn't a dry eye in the auditorium as we witnessed them embark on their next great adventures.
Take a look below at a selection of colleges and universities our Class of 2026 will be attending this fall!
Congratulations to the Harmony Project Class of 2026! We are so deeply honored to have been a part of your story, and we cannot wait to see what you will achieve next.
About Harmony Project:
Harmony Project is a nonprofit that provides high-quality music instruction and social support to children year-round at no cost throughout community hubs in Los Angeles. As one of Los Angeles’ largest music education organizations, Harmony Project is dedicated exclusively to serving children from low-income families and under-resourced communities. Harmony Project envisions a world in which all students have equal access to opportunities to learn how to play music and the resources needed to thrive in college and beyond. Harmony Project’s holistic approach to student success has resulted in impressive outcomes with 98 percent of the graduating high school class accepted to a college or university during the 2025-2026 academic year.