Victoria Young Lanier, Executive Director, studied violin at the Juilliard Pre-College, graduated with honors from Princeton University, and received her Masters of Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. While in New York, she developed her passion for working with youth and ensuring that all children receive equal opportunities for music education. Ms. Lanier was a Program Coordinator for Education Through Music (1999-2003) and taught violin, mentored teaching artists, and designed an integrated string curriculum. In 2004, she was chosen for the Ralph Lauren Polo Jeans G.I.V.E. Campaign (Get Involved. Volunteer. Exceed.) through her work with ETM. Lanier also coordinated Carnegie Hall’s Weill Institute Seminar bringing music to high school students, and taught violin at the Mannes College of Music Prep Division as well as the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Early Strings Program.
Since moving to Los Angeles in 2003, Lanier has worked to bring music education to under-resourced communities. She helped coordinate the Henry Mancini Institute Community Outreach Initiative and served as the Music Education Manager for the Da Camera Society. In 2006, she founded Education Through Music-Los Angeles as the first independent national affiliate of ETM in order to see that every child receives sequential comprehensive music education in school. Lanier was honored at City Hall in 2008 for her work to restore music to Los Angeles schools, and in 2012 was invited to join the Arts Education Task Force through the CA Department of Education and CA Arts Council.
Her experience as a professional violinist includes studio film and television recordings including Fox Simpsons, Spiderman III, and album recordings with artists Kanye West and Christina Aguilera. Lanier has also performed with the Pacific Symphony, Il Divo, John Williams, Long Beach Opera, Josh Groban, Smokey Robinson, and Stevie Wonder.