Business Excellence Awards 2026, Acquisition International | 5 Leading Cultural Symphony Orchestra 2026 – USA The Los Angeles Jewish Symphony (LAJS) is a mission-driven orchestra that was founded in 1994, dedicated to the performance and preservation of works that explore Jewish culture, heritage, and experience. Under the leadership of Founding Artistic Director and Conductor Dr. Noreen Green, this Symphony has established itself as a staple in Southern California’s arts scene. “At its heart, the LAJS believes that music can do more than entertain; it can serve as a bridge between communities, fostering empathy and understanding in our diverse and ever-evolving city.” Over more than three decades, the LAJS has built a unique artistic identity that is rooted in cultural storytelling, community connection, and cross-cultural collaboration. This commitment to cultural dialogue can be seen in every facet of the organisation, from concert programming and education outreach to partnership initiatives that bring Jewish music into broader civic and artistic conversations. Boasting more than 100 U.S. and worldwide premieres, reaching thousands of audience members through Los Angeles and beyond, the LAJS serves a broad cross-section of audiences. This includes classical music lovers, Jewish and interfaith communities, educators, students, and collaborative partners seeking meaningful artistic engagement. The orchestra’s success can be attributed to its approach to programming; where traditional symphonies may focus on the standard classical repertoire, the LAJS distinguishes itself through its speciality in music of the Jewish experience, from celebrated masters to lesserknown composers whose work reflects history, identity, and resilience. In doing so, the LAJS has attracted a number of distinguished collaborators, from Grammy-winning artists and celebrated soloists to Emmy-honoured composers. Such international acclaim has provided the orchestra with myriad opportunities, including presenting performances at prestigious venues that include Walt Disney Concert Hall, Royce Hall at UCLA, The Soraya Performing Arts Center, and the Ford Theatres. “But even more important to us than the venues and names is our community-centered approach,” Dr. Green told us, “which can be seen in our history of free family concerts, festivals such as KlezFest, and inclusive programming that brings people together through shared cultural experiences.” Recent years have brought significant artistic and community milestones for the Symphony. Its education outreach programme, A Patchwork of Cultures: Exploring the Sephardic-Latino Connection, has served thousands of students through workshops and performances that unite diverse cultural traditions. What’s more, a recent Tenero Productions documentary, Symphony of the Holocaust, featuring performance footage of the LAJS and music analysis by Dr. Green herself, has garnered screenings and award recognition across the country, including the Social Impact and Vision Award at the Ojai Film Festival. 2025 allowed the LAJS to further demonstrate its deep commitment to artistic excellence, community accessibility, and meaningful cultural connection. A highlight of the year was an acclaimed, at-capacity concert at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, presented as the season opener of The Ebell of Los Angeles LA Voices Free Concert Series. The program was designed to showcase emerging young talent while broadening access to live orchestral music for diverse audiences across Los Angeles. Meredyth Deighton, Director of Membership and Programming at The Ebell of Los Angeles, perfectly captured the spirit of the LAJS with the description: “…a moving day of music and community. Beyond sounding absolutely incredible, the programme carried such power and hope – it was deeply felt by everyone in the room… an extraordinary program and a remarkable moment of connection.” Also in 2025, Dr. Green, an energetic ambassador for both LAJS and Jewish music, served on the creative team for the world premiere of The Violin Maker, a powerful theatrical work inspired by the Violins of Hope project, a collection of instruments rescued and restored after surviving the Holocaust. The production, which won The Best Los Angeles Theatre of 2025 Award from the Culver City News, featured music curated and performed by Dr. Green, bringing these historic voices vividly to life. Looking to the future, the orchestra is gearing up for a spring performance of opera favourites with Jewish connections. In collaboration with the historic Wilshire Boulevard Temple, this performance will feature an array of local talent and world-renowned opera singers. Alongside this, plans are also underway regarding an exciting high-profile collaboration that will celebrate the 250th Anniversary of America. The Business Excellence Awards are held each year to highlight and celebrate the pioneers currently shaping the environments of their respective industries. For adding such a beautiful and unique voice to Los Angeles’s cultural landscape, in turn building bridges of music and understanding between the city’s diverse multi-ethnic communities, the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony has been named the USA’s Leading Cultural Symphony Orchestra 2026. Contact: Noreen Green Company: Los Angeles Jewish Symphony Web Address: www.lajs.org Music has the power to bridge gaps and build strong connections across society. It allows us to share our individual and group experiences, engage with different cultures and communities, and learn the perspectives of all walks of life. For over 30 years, the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony has shared exceptional performances that explore Jewish culture, heritage, and experience, while also serving as an essential resource for budding composers and performing musicians. As the orchestra receives well-deserved recognition in the 2026 Business Excellence Awards, we caught up with Founding Artistic Director Dr. Noreen Green for more. T AIM-Jan26197
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