OUR MISSION
"Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of flame." - Gustav Mahler
Monday Evening Concerts (MEC) presents unique artistic experiences rooted in the living legacy of classical music. Offering insightfully curated programs consisting of rare and challenging compositions that might otherwise never reach the ears of local audiences, MEC breathes life into its programming by engaging performing artists of the highest international caliber. Whether focusing on (or juxtaposing) ancient works by Hildegard von Bingen or recent compositions by Julius Eastman, MEC's goals are the same: depth and transcendence. With passionate, devoted audiences consisting of everyone from art-world intelligentsia to first-time concertgoers, MEC aims to provide a warm, engaging, visceral and often revelatory musical environment, sparking unexpected curiosities, providing contemplative space, and illuminating new perspectives in the minds of its listeners.
Founded on a Ruldolf Schindler-designed rooftop in Silverlake in 1939 by the poet / critic Peter Yates and the pianist Frances Mullen, MEC is well known for its intimate historical relationships with mavericks such as Igor Stravinsky, Arnold Schoenberg, John Cage, Pierre Boulez, Michael Tilson Thomas and even Aldous Huxley. An indispensable part of Los Angeles's cultural history, MEC remains at the vanguard of its discipline, continuing to innovate and evolve the field of classical music at sold-out concert halls and art galleries across Los Angeles today.