Since our inception in May 2007, we have impacted the lives of more than 1,000 underserved children across Los Angeles, Santa Ana, and the South Bay areas. Our dedicated team of nearly 1,000 musically trained volunteers has provided free classical instruments and weekly Saturday music lessons to children aged 7-12.
As a volunteer-driven organization, Love in Music recognizes the dedication of our volunteers by offering the President’s Volunteer Service Award and Community Leader Awards annually. We actively recruit teaching and coordinating volunteers twice a year to help continue our mission: In July for the fall semester, and January for the spring semester.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to empower underserved children through free music education, fostering cross-cultural collaboration and promoting racial harmony. Using the universal language of music, we strive to bridge communities and inspire youth to grow beyond cultural and ethnic divisions.
History
Inspired by a desire to prevent divisive experiences like the 1992 L.A. Riots, which had a profound impact on the community, Love in Music was initiated as a movement within the Korean American community by a small group of people in May 2007. The founders envisioned music as a powerful tool to heal, connect, and foster unity across diverse communities, and it has grown over the past 18 years into a vital organization that has reached over 1,000 children from underserved communities, including Hispanic, Afro-American, and Asian and more.
Despite significant financial challenges, particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Love in Music has persevered, driven by the dedication of our volunteers—90% of whom are high school students. These volunteers, along with their parents, have been instrumental in ensuring the continuation and success of our programs.
Overview of the Organization
Vision
We envision an inclusive community where children of all backgrounds connect and thrive through shared musical experiences. Our goal is to break down cultural barriers and foster lasting intergroup solidarity.
Core Values
1. Equity: Every child, regardless of background, deserves access to music education and the opportunity to express their talents.
2. Inclusion: Our programs embrace the diversity of Los Angeles County, engaging children from all underserved communities, regardless of race, ethnicity, or cultural background.
3. Collaboration: We partner with local community organizations, local churches and educational institutions and volunteers, promoting teamwork among youth and adults from diverse cultures.
4. Healing and Unity: Through music, we promote understanding, provide safe spaces for connection, and build racial harmony.
Services and Programs
Love in Music serves underserved children from diverse communities, primarily Hispanic, African American and Asian backgrounds. Our “musically trained volunteers” provide free music lessons every Saturday throughout the school year. These programs operate in partnership with two large churches, the Oriental Mission Church (Los Angeles) and Torrance First Presbyterian Church (Torrance), as well as KidWorks, a Hispanic community organization in Santa Ana, CA.
Number of Students Served
We aim to provide free music lessons to at least 100 children annually across Los Angeles, South Bay, and Santa Ana. Currently, over 90 students are enrolled.
Volunteer Engagement
For the 2024-25 school year, we have 102 volunteers, predominantly from the Korean American community, as well as volunteers from Caucasian, Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Hispanic backgrounds, contributing over 5,000 volunteer hours annually.
Major Events
We host two major events in the form of concert each year:
(1) Winter Concert: Held on each branch’s own at the end of the fall semester, the winter concert is a great opportunity for our students to showcase their learning progress as well as a chance to share their cultural heritage with the participation of their families. Featuring the beauty of diversity in cultural attires, this event is led to a a special year-end potluck party hosted by the parents of our students and teachers, celebrating successful completion of the fall semester and the season’s cheer together.
(2) Annual Concert: This event is a special occasion where our community comes together to appreciate the power of music in fostering harmony and connection in a larger scale with our students, volunteers, their families, as well as members of the community across our three branches. Along with a communal lunch for connecting culturally our students and their families with our volunteers who provide them with free weekly lessons. This concert features student performances and special appearances by professional musicians or our teaching volunteers.
Volunteer Online Trainings/Workshops
We offer an online volunteer training seminar to better equip our teaching volunteers with effective teaching skills led by the Music Director, along with music faculty and experts in the instruments we teach as well as in-person workshops as needed once or twice a year. All new volunteers are required to submit a 4-paragraph essay after watching the past volunteer training session links in lieu of individual training sessions as part of the formal registration process.
Instrument Management
We aim to maintain and replace up to 20-30 classical instruments, ensuring all students have access to high-quality instruments for lessons and performances. We accept donation of pre-owned classical instruments in proper condition that can be used in class without any repairs.
Program Expansion
We plan to partner with additional schools, churches, and community organizations to expand our reach, increasing the number of students and volunteers involved.
Welcome to Love in Music!
A Message from Kwan IL Park, President & Co-Founder
President & Co-Founder, Love in Music
Welcome to Love in Music!
Starting with just a few volunteers in May 2007, we have remained dedicated to bringing the joy and power of music to children who might not otherwise have access to music education. Through the dedication of our incredible volunteers whose number has expanded during the past 18 years to as many as 100 a year for nearly 100 students, we have built a nurturing community where young students can grow, express themselves, and connect with others through music.
At Love in Music, we believe that music has the power to bridge cultures, uplift spirits, and transform lives. Each week, our volunteers generously share their time and talents to guide children on their musical journey, fostering patience, discipline, and confidence—skills that extend far beyond learning an instrument.
I am proud to introduce our Music Director, Dr. Kangwon Lee Kim, whose leadership and passion for music education continue to inspire our organization. She beautifully expresses what makes Love in Music so special and why we remain committed to our mission.
Thank you for visiting, and I invite you to be a part of our Love in Music family!
Kwan Il Park
A Message from Dr. Kangwon Lee Kim, the Music Director/Violinist
Violinist / Music Director of Love in Music
I have had the privilege of serving as Music Director since 2021. As a violinist, I have dedicated my life to the art of music, both as a performer and educator, and I am currently active in the vibrant musical community of Madison, Wisconsin.
In today’s world, where the news often brings stories of crises and conflicts, both global and local, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless when faced with these challenges. However, when I work with the volunteers at Love in Music, I am reminded of a powerful quote by Bono, the lead singer of U2:
“Music can change the world, because it can change people.”
This quote resonates deeply with me as I witness the dedication of our young volunteer teachers who patiently engage with our students. These teachers guide them as they learn to play instruments for the first time and beyond. Their commitment to nurturing the musical journeys of children is truly inspiring. With these volunteer teachers, I feel a spark of hope and gratitude.
At Love in Music, we are committed to enriching our communities by providing musical education to young students across our three branches in Los Angeles, Santa Ana, and South Bay. Our annual concert, held at the end of each school year, brings together all members of the Love in Music family, along with the wider community, to celebrate the achievements of our students.
Learning an instrument is hard work; it requires courage, patience, and discipline. Progress is made one note at a time, one measure at a time, one phrase at a time. Our dedicated team selects music pieces that challenge and inspire both teachers and students, culminating in a performance that showcases their growth and dedication.
Here at Love in Music, we hope that our humble efforts will make a positive contribution to the world around us. Each of us may offer only a small part, but together, we take pride in our goal: connecting with others through music and making a difference in our communities.
I invite you to get to know us better and join us in making an impact—whether by teaching, supporting, or simply sharing our vision. Together, we can create a more harmonious world through the power of music.
Welcome to the Love in Music family!
Kangwon Lee Kim
Board of Directors
Kwanil Park, President/CEO
Gloria Y. Lee, Exec. Director/Secretary
Joseph S. Kim, Financial Director/CFO
Kangwon Lee Kim, Music Director
Daniel S. H. Lee, Planning Director
Vincent J. Choi, Planning Director
Welcome and Appreciation from the Board of Directors
Celebrating Nearly Two Decades of Harmonious Journeys
Ever since Love in Music was founded in the wake of the 4.29 L.A. Uprising with a vision to empower youth and build a diverse community, Love in Music has continued to grow during the past 18 years. From a humble initiative within the Korean community, we have evolved into a beacon of hope, touching the lives of over 1,000 children in the communities across the Los Angeles, Santa Ana, and South Bay area through our dedicated team of musically gifted volunteers.
Through the winter and annual concerts, we have showcased the transformative power of music, bringing together our volunteers, students, and their families across our three branches and the members of the wider community and demonstrating the profound impact of music in fostering unity and understanding among the ethnically and culturally different communities.
We invite you to join our movement and support our cause. Whether through volunteering to teach and coordinate, financial donation, or instrumental donation, your contribution enables us to continue spreading love and harmony through music. Details on how to support our mission can be found in the “Get Involved” button on our website – https://www.loveinmusic.org
Love in Music, led by President Kwanil Park whose visionary leadership has guided us throughout the time with unwavering dedication for our community, is grateful for three music directors including Dr. Jinshik Jung (2007-2012), Mr. Daniel Yoonjae Park (2012-2021), and Dr. Kangwon Lee Kim (2021 to present) whose expertise has not only shaped the talents of our teaching volunteers but also dazzled us with their professionalism and virtuosity with dedication and commitment in the course of fulfilling our mission.
Thank you for your unwavering support as we continue to spread unity and harmony through music. Together, we can make a difference!!
Board of Directors
LOVE IN MUSIC