Resident Counselor, YOLA National Festival

Resident Counselor, YOLA National Festival

Position: Resident Counselor, YOLA National Festival

FLSA Grade: Part-Time, Non-Exempt

Reports to: Residential Life Managers, Culture and Residential Life Director, Senior Artistic Manager

Salary: Hourly, $20/hr

About the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association:

Founded in 1919, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association's mission is to perform, present, and promote music in its varied forms at the highest level of excellence to a diverse and large audience, both at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association is dedicated to continuing its preeminent status in the music world of the 21st century.

About the YOLA Program:

YOLA, a music education program of the LA Phil, provides incomparable and equitable access to a high-quality and intensive music education for more than 1,700 elementary, middle, and high school students from diverse and vibrant communities across Los Angeles at five unique sites. In providing this access, YOLA strives to support young people to leverage their learned skills and artistic identities and create transformational change for themselves and their communities. In 2021, the Beckmen YOLA Center was opened as a purpose-built space for YOLA programming and as cultural arts resource in the city of Inglewood.

About the YOLA National Festival (YNF):

An intensive summer orchestra program with a focus on rigorous artistic development, the YOLA National Festival is for young musicians from El Sistema-inspired programs and programs similarly invested in youth and community development through music.

Serving over 125 musicians ages 12-18 from El Sistema-inspired programs throughout the United States, participants will perform as part of this top-tier national youth orchestra. Musicians will convene for up to a week long of learning with the festival's world-renowned faculty, guest artists, and conductors.

All travel, lodging, and meals are provided at no cost for participating musicians. The YOLA National Festival will be housed on the campus of Cal State Fullerton with engagements at the Beckmen YOLA Center, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the Hollywood Bowl.

Position Summary:

The Resident Counselor, reporting to the Residential Life Managers and Culture and Residential Life Director, is a part-time non-exempt, seasonal position from July 31st – August 11th Los Angeles, CA. Resident Counselors are responsible for the supervision of YOLA National Festival musicians during their residential life experience. Resident Counselors will also serve as mentors and liaisons between YOLA National Festivals participants and administrative staff to enhance each participant's experience.

All flights, lodging, meals, and transportation will be provided by the LA Phil.

Resident Counselors will need to be fully available from July 31st – August 11th, 2026. The Resident Counselor will report directly to the Residential Life Managers and Culture and Residential Life Director.

Resident counselors will have the following mandatory trainings:

• Virtually at various points before the festival
• CPR / First Aid Certification completed before the festival
• Sexual harassment, workplace violence, mandatory reporting course completed before the festival
• July 31st – August 2nd, 2026 before the festival in person

This position will include evening and weekend responsibilities. This is a live-on campus position at a Los Angeles location during the festival dates of July 31st – August 11th, 2026.

Supervision:

• Supervise an assigned group of 8-10 participants for the duration of the festival, and specifically during their Residential Life experience
• Reside in dorms within proximity to participants
• Implement lights out and take daily attendance
• Escort participants to meals and activities as needed
• Serve as the main point of contact for all participants in their care and ensure they have a positive experience
• Ensure all participants in their care are well-cared for and serve as the primary advocate for their group
• Lead and supervise assigned participant groups on off-campus field trips, ensuring safety and accountability
• Respond to participant medical needs and communicate effectively with the on-site nurse when required

Safety:

• Work with Residential Life Managers to implement safety and security protocols
• Support Residential Life Managers in conveying and implementing established policies, addressing participant concerns, and resolving conflicts
• Implement, support, and/or supervise recreational and social activities
• Contribute to building an environment of relationships filled with trust, caring, respect, and support; be an empathetic listener, supportive responder, and seeker of help
• Ability to actively track and ensure participant safety and whereabouts throughout the residential period

Operations and Production:

• Assist YOLA National Festival staff in executing logistics related to participants' travel, lodging, meal, and other arrangements
• Assist in operational and production elements of the festival
• Additional duties related to COVID-19 protocols and policies may be necessary

Other duties as assigned

Position Requirements:

• Experience working with young people ages 12-18
• Possess a high degree of personal responsibility, sensitivity to and interest in other people, and a proven ability to troubleshoot
• Must adhere to the highest standards of role-modeling and positive behaviors around and toward staff, participants and faculty
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive situations with excellent judgment and discretion
• Must escalate any identified problems or concerns to the Residential Life Managers, Culture and Residence Life Director, or to the YOLA National Manager in a timely manner
• Experience working with young people from diverse communities preferred
• Background in music preferred, but not required
• Driver's license preferred, but not required
• First Aid, CPR and AED certification required, session to be held upon arrival as needed
• Must maintain and report accurate hours worked
• Must be fully vaccinated; booster is highly encouraged
• Must be at least 21 years or older at the time of the festival

Position Expectations:

• Be an active and participatory member of the YOLA National team and engage with all events for the YOLA National Festival
• Attend meetings and trainings related to events and projects you are tasked with and actively communicating conflicts and preparing for any meetings that cannot be attended.
• Complete various tasks within established time frames.
• Ability to work with multiple priorities that may need swift reorganization.
• Strong independent work and proactively identify and assess effective methods of work operation.
• Have excellent communication skills, with attention to detail, strong sense of empathy and a proactive nature.
• Ability to think quickly, adapt in dynamic environments, and bring a proactive, can-do mindset
• Creative thinker able to engage and entertain groups of young people during free time
• Have the ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive situations with excellent judgment and discretion.
• Maintain professionalism in all instances and embrace serving as a representative of the festival, the YOLA program, and the LA Phil in this role
• Interact with stakeholders of the YOLA community, including but not limited to administrators, partners, teaching artists, alumni, parents, and young musicians