Project support provided by the David C. Bohnett President's Discovery and Innovation Fund 

VAN Beethoven was supported by a grant from The James Irvine Foundation

Los Angeles, April 26, 2016 - Today the Los Angeles Philharmonic's virtual reality app, Orchestra VR, was honored with both the Webby and People's Voice awards for Cinematic VR by The Webby Awards, the leading international awards recognizing excellence on the Internet.

Launched in September 2015, the Orchestra VR virtual reality app was central to the VAN Beethoven customized mobile truck that toured Los Angeles. Offering thousands of Angelenos the unprecedented opportunity to experience the first minutes of Beethoven's timeless Symphony No. 5 performed by the LA Phil, Orchestra VR led the viewer in an immersive, 360-degree, 3D environment. As part of the LA Phil's Immortal Beethoven festival, the performance was led by Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Following the festival, the Orchestra VR app became available free in the Oculus and Samsung Gear VR stores, and on YouTube. One of the first arts-focused applications to launch on VR headsets, it has been viewed over half a million times by people around the globe.

The 20^th annual Webby Awards will take place on May 16, 2016 and will be available to view online May 17, on the YouTube Webby Awards channel. 

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, under the vibrant leadership of Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, presents an inspiring array of music from all genres - orchestral, chamber and Baroque music, organ and celebrity recitals, new music, jazz, world music and pop - at two of L.A.'s iconic venues, Walt Disney Concert Hall (www.laphil.com) and the Hollywood Bowl (www.hollywoodbowl.com). The LA Phil's season extends from September through May at Walt Disney Concert Hall, and throughout the summer at the Hollywood Bowl. With the preeminent Los Angeles Philharmonic at the foundation of its offerings, the LA Phil aims to enrich and transform lives through music, with a robust mix of artistic, education and community programs.