La Sierra University Hosts Inner City Youth Orchestra for Black History Month

La Sierra University will celebrate Black History Month with a special performance by the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA) on February 8 at 5:30 p.m. The free concert, titled "An Evening of Inspiration," will take place at the La Sierra University Church and is part of a series of events welcoming the university’s new president, Dr. Christon Arthur.

ICYOLA founder and conductor Charles Dickerson III will lead the performance. A former La Sierra student, Dickerson has built a career blending music, law, and education while championing opportunities for young musicians of color.

“We want to learn and perform great orchestral works from around the world,” Dickerson said. “Our goal is to give minority youth, especially Black and Latino kids, the skills they need to join major American orchestras.”

Founded in 2009, ICYOLA is the nation’s largest primarily Black orchestra, providing inner-city youth with musical training and personal development opportunities. The program has launched careers in classical music while inspiring young artists through performances across Los Angeles and beyond.

The evening will feature works that reflect Black history and culture, including Dickerson’s own compositions: "I Have a Dream," inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech, and a piece based on Amanda Gorman’s Inauguration Day poem, "The Hill We Climb."

Beyond his work with ICYOLA, Dickerson teaches at Cal State Dominguez Hills and previously led a Black Studies course at La Sierra University in 2021.

The Details

When: Saturday, February 8, 5:30pm
Where: La Sierra University Church, 4937 Sierra Vista Ave., Riverside 92505
Cost: Free and open to the public