A key component of Law Rocks’ mission is to promote youth music education. In 2023, the Law Rocks Board founded the Music Matters grant, given to a local nonprofit that supports youth music education in each of our US tour cities. Omi Crawford, Executive Director of Law Rocks, says of the grant initiative:
“Law Rocks has always been about championing nonprofits, especially local organizations that make a real difference in their community. The Music Matters grant deepens that commitment, helping support music education organizations nationwide as they change young lives through the power of music. It’s inspiring and exciting to learn more about each organizations work, truly one of the best things about this work!”
Law Rocks kicks off a 15th anniversary celebration in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at Whisky a Go Go. The three-night event will bring 18 bands to the stage to rock in support of local nonprofits and celebrate 15 years of Law Rocks in Los Angeles. We are pleased to announce we will be awarding another Music Matters grant to returning recipient, Harmony Project!
The first of three 2026 Law Rocks Los Angeles Music Matters Grant Recipients: Harmony Project | Photo courtesy of Harmony Project
Over 25 years, Harmony Project has become “LA’s largest music education organization dedicated exclusively to youth from low-income families and under-resourced communities – one of the most effective arts-based, youth development programs in the nation.” We first awarded the organization with a Music Matters grant in 2024, and are thrilled to support the organization again. We recently checked in with Natalie Jackson, Executive Director of Harmony Project, to hear what the organization has been up to over the past year.
1) What new successes or milestones have you achieved since we last spoke?
Over the past year, Harmony Project reached several meaningful milestones that reflect steady growth and resilience. Students across Los Angeles County continued participating in tuition free music programs while gaining more opportunities to perform beyond the classroom. Our young musicians took the stage at high profile venues including Dodger Stadium during a Juneteenth celebration and the YouTube Theater as part of the Women in Billboard Gala, experiences that helped build confidence and pride in their work.
At the same time, students continued moving forward on long term paths toward college and adulthood, supported by counseling, scholarships, and an active alumni network. These milestones speak to the lasting impact of music paired with mentorship and community.
Together, this progress reflects a year defined by connection, visibility, and consistency, reinforcing Harmony Project’s role as a trusted presence in the lives of young people and their families.
2) Can you share an example of how your programs or initiatives have positively impacted the community in the past year?
This past year, the Eaton Fire deeply impacted many Harmony Project students and families when Eliot Arts Magnet in Altadena was destroyed. Overnight, students lost not only a school, but a place of routine, safety, and connection. Families were suddenly navigating displacement and uncertainty, often while trying to hold things together for their children.
In those moments, the response was simple and human: showing up. Teaching artists and staff continued to be a steady presence for students, keeping music classes and relationships going even as many were dealing with challenges in their own lives. At the same time, the Community and Relational Engagement team stepped in with focused outreach, working closely with 286 impacted students, families, and alumni to help connect them with resources and support.
For families, knowing that someone was checking in, that their children still had a place to belong, mattered deeply. For students, continuing to make music offered comfort, familiarity, and a way to feel grounded when so much around them had changed. This experience reinforced something we see every day: music, paired with care and relationships, can help young people and their families feel supported, connected, and less alone during even the hardest moments.
Drumline Pose At Dodger Stadium Post Performance | Photo courtesy of Harmony Project
3) Have any new programs or initiatives been introduced since our last conversation that you are particularly excited about?
Yes! Over the past year, Harmony Project has expanded opportunities for students who are ready to take their music to the next level, with a stronger focus on ensemble playing and performance. These efforts give students more time to rehearse together, challenge themselves musically, and work toward shared goals as a group. For many students, this means building confidence not just as individual musicians, but as part of a team.
This fall, we also launched the Harmony Project Conservatory, the first program of its kind at Harmony Project. The Conservatory was created for intermediate and advanced students who are deeply committed to music and eager for a more challenging experience. Students were selected through in person auditions, giving them a first look at the kinds of processes they may encounter in college or professional music settings.
Once accepted, students participate in advanced classes, small group performances, and guided experiences that expose them to the professional music world in Los Angeles. Most importantly, the Conservatory challenges students to see themselves as serious musicians with a place in that world. As HarmonyProject approaches its 25th anniversary, this program represents an exciting step forward and a new way to support young artists with big ambitions.
4) What has been the most rewarding aspect of your work over the past year?
Every year, the most rewarding part of Harmony Project’s work is watching students grow in confidence through music. Seeing our students step into rehearsals, take risks, and perform with pride is a powerful reminder of why this work matters.
This past year made that growth especially meaningful. After the Eaton Fire disrupted the lives and routines of some of our students in Pasadena and Altadena, we focused on supporting students and their families so music could remain a steady and familiar presence. Our Community and Relational Engagement team played a critical role, working to connect families to the resources they needed during a challenging time.
Watching students continue to build confidence, support one another, and stay engaged in music, even in the face of uncertainty, showed how creativity and community can provide comfort and belonging when it is needed most.
5) What are you most looking forward to in the coming year?
The year ahead feels especially powerful as Harmony Project celebrates its 25th anniversary. It is a chance to pause and take in everything that has been built over a quarter century, from the first students who picked up an instrument to the thousands of young people who have since found confidence, community, and opportunity through music. This milestone belongs to the students, families, teaching artists, and supporters who have made the journey possible.
At the same time, the anniversary is very much about what comes next. The coming year is filled with excitement as we continue to expand access to music education, deepen the student experience, and create more moments for young artists to be seen and celebrated. There is real energy around building on what has worked, learning from challenges, and opening new doors for the next generation of children who have an interest in music.
This anniversary year is not just a celebration of the past. It is a statement of belief in the future. Harmony Project enters this moment with gratitude, ambition, and a deep sense of purpose, ready to carry its mission forward and continue changing lives through music.
Harmony Project EXPO Mariachi Group pose with Latin pop singer Ángela Aguillar Pre Their Billboard Women in Music Gala Performance | Photo courtesy of Harmony Project
6) What is your favorite thing about having your organization take part in a Law Rocks event?
What stands out most about a Law Rocks event is how naturally it brings people together through music. The atmosphere is fun and welcoming, and it creates an easy way for people to connect around a shared love of live performance while supporting a good cause.
The event also introduces Harmony Project to new audiences who care about music and community. It shows how enjoying great music can directly support young artists and help sustain programs that make a real difference. That combination of energy, connection, and impact is what makes being part of a Law Rocks event so meaningful.
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Learn more about Harmony Project.
Read the recap for The 15th Annual Law Rocks Los Angeles.