Los Angeles Recorder Orchestra

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LARO was founded in the summer of 2004 by Lia Starer Levin and Thomas Axworthy, two musician/teachers who were inspired by the recorder orchestra movement that originated in England, offering a performing challenge for more advanced recorder players.We perform free concerts each year in venues across Los Angeles and Orange counties. Beyond performance, LARO is committed to increasing interest and appreciation for recorder music within the community, and to connecting people of all ages with the joy of this versatile instrument. We bring recorder music to schools and community centers to inspire new audiences and encourage musical appreciation.LARO is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation organized to increase interest in, knowledge of, and the playing of, recorders specifically, and music in general. We are run by the membership through an annually elected Board of Directors.&nbsp;LARO is an affiliate of ARS (American Recorder Society).

Ricardo Berón is Music Director for LARO. Born in Santa Fe, Argentina, he studied recorder with Vicky Borsone at the Escuela Nacional de Música in Rosario, Argentina. In Los Angeles he studied with Lia Levín and holds a degree in music from Los Angeles Valley College, where he was the recipient of the Arts Council Showcase Award for Instrumental Music for 2003–2004 and a finalist for 2004–2005. He has taken a masterclass with Marion Verbruggen and participated in numerous workshops conducted by, among others, Rotem Gilbert, Adam Gilbert, Peter Maund, Paul Leenhouts, Ted Stern, Inga Funck, Alexandra Opsahl, Glen Shannon, and Gloria Ramsey.Ricardo has been a member of LARO since its founding in 2004. He stepped into the role of Acting Music Director after our co-Founder and first Music Director Tom Axworthy passed away in October 2024. In August 2025, Ricardo was appointed LARO’s permanent Music Director.He is the president of the Southern California Recorder Society (SCRS) and has been a guest conductor multiple times for the Orange County Recorder Society (OCRS), the Central Coast Recorder Society (CCRS) in Santa Barbara, and the Southern California Recorder Society.

About our Music Director

Music stands and chairs placed in the atrium of the building

LARO is an ensemble of about 25 players, dedicated to the art of recorder music. Our group performs a wide range of music that spans from the Renaissance period to the present, and includes a variety of recorders including sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, bass, great bass, ContraBass, subGreatBass, and subContraBass.Our next concerts will be May 31 in Long Beach, and June 7 in Los Angeles.Discover the rich sounds of our diverse range of recorders and deepen your appreciation for this timeless instrument.

Gallery

The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra at a live broadcast transmitted to the US, 1939. Laajennetun Radio-orkesterin konsertin radiointi Konservatorion salissa 1.1.1939, orkesteria johtaa kapellimestari Toivo Haapanen. Radiointi lähetettiin suorana Yhdysvaltoihin New Yorkin maailmannäyttelyn kunniaksi. https://www.flickr.com/photos/ylearkisto/14294180341/

AtoutCuivres brass ensemble, reheasal and concert WE, january 2013

1938, Classes in Plaza Music Center. Photographer David Robbins

DESHIS-08-04 The ‘Circle Six Orchestra’. A newspaper cutting attached to the back of the frame shows a reproduction of the photo and the following text: “This popular orchestra is composed entirely of Deseronto boys and has been organized for the past five years. Since this photograph was taken the traps player, James McVicker, has added a set of temple blocks to his equipment. Reading from left to right the players are – Reginald Dawson, Roy Woodcock, Clayton John, James McVicker, Marshall Woodcock and Roy Kitchen (now a resident of Tweed).”

A Merry Company. Upphov: Pot, Hendrick, Hallwylska museet/SHM (PDM) https://samlingar.shm.se/object/C081BB71-B461-42D2-96ED-76FA6380E395

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Videos

Note the tall recorders in the back, so tall the players have to stand up to play.These are responsible for the very low notes.

Nov. 16, 2025, St. Matthias Church, Whittier CA

Willis Masonheimer featured on LARO’s Contrabass Alphorn (called Alp-Zilla by the orchestra), probably the only one in the U.S.

Sept. 15, 2019, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, N.Hollywood CA

A program offering recorder instruments on loan to new players to encourage participation and learning.

Instrument Lending Program

Custom performances for private events, corporate functions, and celebrations featuring a diverse recorder ensemble.

Special Event Performances

Access to a curated collection of recorder sheet music and arrangements spanning Renaissance to 20th century compositions.

Music Library Access

One-on-one recorder lessons tailored to individual skill levels, helping players improve technique and repertoire.

Private Lessons

Our Upcoming Spring Concert Program "Baroque Soundscape" includes works by Marini, Scarlatti, Vivaldi and Telemann:May 31, 2026, 4pm, Long Beach, Unitarian Universalist Church, 5450 E. Atherton StJune 7, 2026, 4pm, Los Angeles, St Bede’s Episcopal Church, 3590 Grand View Blvd

Concert Performances

LARO has been performing Concerts since 2005, and creating a CD of each program. Here is a list of the Highlights of each Program.

Past Programs

Concerts

<h3>How We Work</h3>We rehearse 3 evenings a month, split into a Spring season and a Fall season, approximately 5 months each, each season with its own set of music. At the end of each season we present a concert in 2 different locations across the LA area, a total of 4 concert performances per year. In addition to these regularly scheduled events, we have done many side appearances for other groups or events such as “Bach in the Subway”.Our Music Director selects the music, conducts the rehearsals and concerts, and approves new members. Recorder players interested in joining LARO should contact Music Director Ricardo Berón at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="mailto:ribecu@yahoo.com">director@LAROmusic.org</a><h3>Our Schedule, 2026 Spring</h3>Rehearsals, 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm, Tuesdays:St. Bede's Episcopal Church, 3590 Grand View Blvd, Los Angeles &nbsp;CA 90066January &nbsp; 27February &nbsp; 3, 10, &nbsp;24 &nbsp;March &nbsp; 10, 17, 24April &nbsp;14, 21, 28May &nbsp;5, 12, 19 &nbsp;June 2Concerts, Sundays:May 31st, at 4:00 pm in Long BeachJune 7th, at 4:00 pm in West Los Angeles

<h4>About Lia</h4>Lia Starer Levin, a native of Vienna, Austria, lived and taught in Israel and Latin America before coming to the United States in 1978. She received her M.A. in Piano Pedagogy from Goddard College and her Ph.D. in Musicology from International College after completing a recording of her Young Pianist’s Repertoire for the former and her dissertation, The Recorder in the Music of Purcell and Handel, for the latter. She also authored three educational collections for the recorder -- 170 Canons and Rounds, The Holiday Recorder, and Melodias Populares Mexicanas.She held teaching diplomas from Trinity College of Music, London, and from the American Recorder Society, and served on the faculties of Loyola Marymount,U.C. Riverside, L.A. City College, the University of Judaism, the Colburn School of Performing Arts, and Valley College.The main motivation for Lia was to actually play in an orchestra with a repertoire of varied periods and genres. The recorder does not fit into orchestras with modern instruments, being an Early Music instrument with a specialized historical style.<h4>About Tom</h4>Thomas Axworthy was an active performer in many ethnic, speciality and classical chamber music groups. He was the founding director of the Southern California Early Music Consort, which appeared in the Mel Brooks film Robin Hood: Men in Tights.Tom's early instruments have been heard in numerous film and TV soundtracks, including The Blue Lagoon, The Lord of the Rings, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid -- The Early Years, Casanova (for Michel LeGrand), and The Mary Rose. He appeared in and recorded music for the WB television show Gilmore Girls and also recorded music (playing shawm and recorders) for Disney's 1996 animated feature The Hunchback of Notre Dame.Tom recorded for Musical Heritage Society, Nonesuch, Dargason, Titanic, and Word Records. He has appeared as a soloist, playing shawm and recorder, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Andre Previn. He played German Street Organ with the Philharmonic in Disney Hall.His early-music editions and saxophone arrangements are published by Dorn Productions and Anfor Publications. He is listed in Who's Who in Music.Tom's motivation was to offer professional and qualified amateur recorderists a forum for high-level playing and performing, as well as presenting the recorder in a new light, thereby enriching the Southern California music scene.

LARO Founders

LARO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and your gift is tax deductible to the full extent of the law.LARO is listed with Your Cause, and Benevity.

Los Angeles Recorder Orchestra, Inc. is a 501(3)(c) non-profit