Los Angeles

‘Music Is a Big Part of My Life': Youth Orchestra Welcomed Home After Super Bowl Performance

Students of the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles were on cloud nine after performing with Coldplay, Beyoncé and Bruno Mars at SB50

Greeted with the loud cheers of their loved ones, students of the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles beamed with pride as they arrived home from what had to be the biggest gig of their lives thus far.

The orchestra, comprised of musicians aged 6 to 18, got share the stage with musical superstars Coldplay, Beyoncé and Bruno Mars at Sunday's Super Bowl 50 halftime show.

"YOLA! YOLA! YOLA!" the orchestra's family and supporters chanted as they got off the bus to a homecoming celebration Monday at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Many of the awaiting loved ones waved signs bearing messages such as, "Felicidades!" "Welcome home!" and "We are really proud of you."

One proud mother in particular sobbed as she greeted her son, Marc Jung, with a hug and balloons.

"At first, I couldn't believe it," Jung, a violinist, said. "I knew we had to play at the Super Bowl, but it hadn't sunk in yet."

When Jung looked out at the crowd of more than 75,000 in Levi Stadium, that's when it hit him.

"I was amazed," he said. "I was walking with my friend, and he was tearing up. By that time, I was holding my emotions in, but seeing him cry made me cry, too."

Conceived in 2007 by the LA Phil Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, YOLA has provided free instruments, musical training and and academic support to more than 700 students in South Los Angeles, the Rampart District and East Los Angeles.

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"Music is a big part of my life," Jung said. "I couldn't live on without it. Without [YOLA], I wouldn't have been able to learn music."

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