Leni Boorstin

As Director of Community and Government Affairs for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, Leni Boorstin was responsible for Neighborhood Concerts and other community programs, including those that opened Walt Disney Concert Hall, celebrated its 5th and 10th anniversaries, and welcomed Gustavo Dudamel to Los Angeles as the LA Phil’s Music Director. She worked with a coalition of stakeholders to introduce El Sistema-influenced programs to Los Angeles and helped develop the partnerships that have resulted in the robust Youth Orchestra LA (YOLA) programs in four sites serving well over 1000 students, currently virtually during the pandemic. Ms. Boorstin’s previous experience in arts management was at KPFK-FM and San Francisco’s Exploratorium Museum. As a graduate student she was a Public Affairs and the Arts Fellow with the CORO Foundation. Ms. Boorstin served four Mayors as a City of LA’s Human Relations Commissioner. She is a founding member and Chair emeritus of Arts for LA, served on the board of El Sistema USA, co-chaired the League of American Orchestra Diversity Forum’s committee on K-12 Pathways, and has served on LA County’s CEII (Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative) Committee since 2018. Currently, Leni is Advisor, Civic Engagement for the LA Phil, having left full-time work. In recognition of her tenure with the LA Phil, the Leni Boorstin YOLA Administrative Fellowship was established which will offer two young people each year experience working side-by-side LA Phil and YOLA staff members from the soon to be completed Beckmen YOLA Center in Inglewood. The Fellowships will magnify student voice and empowerment of YOLA alums while providing paid job experience. Ms. Boorstin is currently serving as a ESUSA Presto Program mentor, and is honored to join ESUSA’s Resource Council.