Resident Counselor, YOLA National Festival

Position: Resident Counselor, YOLA National Festival

Department: Learning

Position Status: Part-Time, Non-Exempt

Pay Rate: $18.00/Hour

Reports to: Residential Life Manager(s), Culture and Residential Life Director, YOLA National Manager

Salary: Hourly, $18/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 pre-eminent 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.

YOLA National Festival 2024:

This July, the LA Phil will be hosting the YOLA National Festival (YNF) in Los Angeles, CA. The YOLA National Festival invites over 170 musicians ages 12-18 from El Sistema-inspired programs throughout the United States to perform as part of a top-tier, national youth orchestra. Musicians will convene for 10 days of learning with world-renown faculty, guest artists, and conductors.

All travel, lodging, and meals are provided at no cost for participating musicians. YNF will be housed on the campus of the California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, and will have 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 18th – July 30th in 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 and 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 18th – July 30th, 2024.

The Resident Counselor will report directly to the Residential Life Managers and Culture and Residential Life Director.

Resident counselors will have mandatory training sessions before the festival in person from July 18th- July 20th and virtually at various points before the festival.

This position will include evening and weekend responsibilities. This is a live-on campus position at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, CA during the festival dates of July 18th - July 30th

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

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

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 Culture and Residence Life Director or to the YOLA National Manager in a timely manner
• Experience working with young people from diverse communities preferred
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred, but not required 
• 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 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.
• 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.

An Equal Opportunity Employer: It is the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association’s policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. The Association does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status or any other basis prohibited under federal, state or local law. The Association also provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).