LA Conductor Peyman Farzinpour Advocates for Local Arts Access

Farzinpour reflects on how community-level arts participation shapes individuals and culture in Southern California.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Peyman Farzinpour, a Los Angeles-based conductor, composer, and arts educator, discusses the importance of local access to the arts. Drawing on his experiences working with major cultural institutions and teaching emerging artists in the region, Farzinpour highlights disparities in arts education and funding, and emphasizes the need for grassroots initiatives to strengthen creative communities.

Why it matters

Arts access is not just an abstract policy issue, but one that directly impacts individuals and communities. Farzinpour's perspective sheds light on the tangible challenges facing the arts landscape in Los Angeles County, where arts education is declining in many schools and arts organizations struggle with unstable funding. He argues that local action is crucial to building a more vibrant, inclusive creative culture.

The details

Farzinpour has held roles with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and as Director of New Music at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), where he designed innovative concert experiences. In his work and teaching, he has observed that talent is widespread in the region, but opportunity is uneven. Less than half of public high schools in LA County offer sustained arts instruction, and arts enrollment drops sharply after middle school, especially in underserved neighborhoods. Meanwhile, local arts nonprofits report growing waitlists for youth programs as demand increases.

  • Farzinpour began his career with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
  • He later served as Director of New Music at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

The players

Peyman Farzinpour

A Los Angeles-based conductor, composer, multimedia producer, educator, and arts entrepreneur who has worked to increase access to the arts in Southern California.

Los Angeles Philharmonic

A major symphony orchestra based in Los Angeles that Farzinpour worked with early in his career.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

An art museum in Los Angeles where Farzinpour served as Director of New Music and designed innovative concert experiences for local audiences.

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What they’re saying

“Studying literature taught me structure and meaning. Music isn't just sound. It's narrative.”

— Peyman Farzinpour, Conductor and Educator (atlantanews-online.com)

“Don't wait for permission. Institutions catch up later.”

— Peyman Farzinpour, Conductor and Educator (atlantanews-online.com)

“I don't believe innovation requires breaking tradition. Some of the most radical ideas I've had came from studying classical forms very closely.”

— Peyman Farzinpour, Conductor and Educator (atlantanews-online.com)

What’s next

Farzinpour encourages readers to take small, local actions to support the arts, such as attending neighborhood performances, volunteering with arts nonprofits, and starting community-based arts initiatives.

The takeaway

Farzinpour's perspective underscores how access to the arts is not just an abstract policy issue, but one that directly shapes individuals, communities, and the future of creative work. By taking grassroots action, he believes Los Angeles residents can build momentum and create meaningful change in the local arts landscape.