Grantee Database

Grant Year

2023-24

Grant Program

Impact Projects

Award Amount

$21,250.00

Project Description

With support from the California Arts Council, Synchromy will collaborate with LA-based drummer Guillermo E. Brown, artist and curator Talia Greene, and local activist Elva Yañez of Save Elephant Hill to create a performance series and interactive experience for our 6th annual Urban Birds program in Spring 2024. This free, family-friendly project centers Elephant Hill, a greenspace plagued by illegal dumping and off-roading, that residents have been fighting to protect for over a decade.

We will also produce an app with geotagged sounds recorded by community members, enabling visitors to encounter the site’s history; learn about local wildlife; and experience the performance virtually. Our goal is to use artistic activities to amplify issues, support the community of El Sereno in forming solutions, and highlight the role of urban greenspaces in creating equitable and vibrant communities.

Organization Summary

LIVE MUSIC PROGRAMMING
Synchromy produces 6-8 live music programs annually. Our 2025-26 season features six world premieres by LA composers. Tickets are free or low-cost. For paid events, we distribute free tickets through partner organizations. A number of our events take place outdoors, including our annual Urban Birds event. We also produce projects for digital spaces.

SUPPORT FOR COMPOSERS
Synchromy supports composers’ creative process from inception through production. We provide composers with high-quality documentation and press kits, which are crucial in obtaining further funding and performance opportunities. In 2022, we increased our commissioning fee to a minimum of $1500, which means that all of our artists are compensated at or above regional living wage standards. In 2025, we launched Composer Dream Projects, our flagship commissioning initiative which invites composers to propose the work they most want to create. Over the past several seasons, CDP has enabled ambitious, deeply personal projects that would not otherwise exist, while also generating essential visibility and career advancement for participating artists.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Synchromy believes that collaboration is essential for diversifying our audiences and ensuring that new music remains a vital and impactful part of the cultural and community life of our city. We began our Community Partnerships initiative in 2018, and have since collaborated with 16 non-arts organizations and 6 external arts organizations. Our goal over the next two years is to create five new partnerships, including collaborations with outreach nonprofits, educational bodies, and to offer childcare for audience members through collaborations with church nursery facilitators.

Organization

Synchromy

Address

1390 North Arroyo Blvd

Pasadena

91103

County

Los Angeles

Region

South – Los Angeles & Orange

Website

Email

Congressional District

California Assembly district 43

State Assembly District

District 43

State Senate District

District 24

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