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New Classic LA is a website engaged with the avant garde music scene in Los Angeles.

Founded in 2011 by Nick Norton and now run by Richard An, we feature concert reviews, interviews with artists, and a calendar of events we think our readers will be interested in.

New Classic LA, as a project of Equal Sound, enjoys 501(c) 3 nonprofit status. Please consider supporting our work with a donation.

Upcoming Concerts

Friday, October 10 2025
  • Wild Up L.A. Composers Series
    Sierra Madre Playhouse
    8:00 PM

    Wild Up, in partnership with Sierra Madre Playhouse, continues its L.A. Composer Series with a bold program that brings together four of LA’s most fearless musicians – Andrew Tholl, violin; Vicki Ray, piano; Marlon Martinez, bass; and Brian Walsh, clarinet/saxophone – who will co-devise a new genre-defying concert-length work on stage in real time, on Friday, October 10, 2025, at Sierra Madre Playhouse. The musical artists, all of whom are also composers and improvisors, will combine traditional notation with improvisation to create a compelling new work grounded in the moment.

    The sonic adventure is part of Wild Up’s series spotlighting living composers working in Los Angeles.

    Wild Up is “L.A.’s transformative new music chamber orchestra and collective…founded 15 years ago by Christopher Rountree with a seemingly limitless collection of inventive ideas for bringing classical music into the 21st century and beyond” (Los Angeles Times).

    For tickets ($12-$35) and information, please call 626.355.4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org. Sierra Madre Playhouse is located at 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA 91024.

Saturday, October 11 2025
  • LA Stories - Musical Tales from the City of Sun preformed by Helix Collective
    Wende Museum, Culver City, CA
    1:00 PM

    L.A. Stories
    Saturday, October 11th
    1pm and 3pm
    Wende Museum
    Glorya Kaufman Community Center
    10808 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA
    FREE RSVP HERE:
    https://lastories.eventbrite.com

    L.A. Stories brings together local poets, writers, composers, and musicians to celebrate the beauty and diversity of Los Angeles. This music and storytelling show from Helix Collective creates vignettes within the city about surviving and thriving in L.A. We all share this city but it looks different from every vantage point.

    Helix Collective’s musicians including flutist Sarah Robinson, oboist Phil Popham, pianist Kathryn Eames, and percussionist Tyler Stell narrate and perform this set of musical stories. These include poetry and stories from local authors as well as a collection of letters from the early 20th Century Los Angeles. These are set to music by composers writing original music for the project.

    This performance is made possible in part by the City of Culver City and its Cultural Affairs Commission with support from Sony Pictures Entertainment. The event will take place in the Glorya Kaufman Community Center in the Wende Museum.

    Free parking is available in the city lots adjacent to the museum.

Saturday, November 1 2025
  • GAME JAMS
    Marilyn Monroe Theatre at the Lee Strasberg Institute
    3:00 PM

    GAME JAMS!
    Saturday, November 1st, 3pm, Marilyn Monroe Theatre, West Hollywood
    Sunday, November 2nd, 3pm, Colony Theatre, Burbank
    Tickets $10: helixcollective.org/shows

    Marilyn Monroe Theatre, 7936 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046
    Colony Theatre, 555 N 3rd St, Burbank, CA 91502

    Helix Collective presents an absolutely EPIC video game music concert!

    A live performance of today’s most popular game music including League of Legends Champions Themes, Baba Yetu from Civilization IV, music from Final Fantasy XV, Guild Wars 2, Hell Divers 2, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, The Simpson’s Game, and BioShock Infinite!

    Helix Collective’s mini-orchestra of strings, winds, percussion, piano, and guitar performs music by legends of video game music including Garry Schyman, Yoko Shimomura, Austin Wintory, J.D. Spears, Christopher Tin, Wilbert Roget, Christopher Lennertz, Tim Wynn, Maclaine Diemer, Shaun Chasin, and more!

    KUSC’s Jennifer Miller Hammel (host of the ARCADE video game livestream) is your guide through the world of video game music. Jennifer will share insider stories and interviews with the music creators during the show.