The Future of Music is Here: Highlights From The 2024 SoCal Beat Battle

*SoCal Beat Battle Winners & Honorable Mentions at Spotify LA*

Stepping into Spotify Headquarters in Los Angeles, the energy is electric. 400 high school students, teachers, administrators and families have gathered to witness something extraordinary: the SoCal Beat Battle Finals, featuring the most talented middle and high school music creators in Southern California. In a city that has recently faced incredible challenges from devastating wildfires, this event brings a much-needed sense of hope and joy. It’s a vibrant celebration of creativity, originality, community and the spirit of the next generation.

The SoCal Beat Battle, a longstanding collaboration between Young Producers Group and Soundtrap, is more than just a competition. It is a movement, a testament to the power of music education and the potential of young music creators. More than 700 middle and high school students submitted original tracks and from this incredible pool of talent, 18 honorable mentions and nine finalists emerged across the producer, instrumental and vocalist categories.

Before the event began, students immersed themselves in a world of musical discovery, exploring interactive installations from sponsors like Roland, Fender, Artiphon, Beatport, AiAiAi, Riot Games and Warner Music. They experimented with new instruments, played legendary guitars and wore custom Beat Battle tee shirts.

*Students get creative with Roland drum machines*

The main event commenced as Leandro Otero of Soundtrap welcomed the crowd with enthusiasm, and Young Producers Group’s Executive Director Lawrence Grey hyped everyone up as MC. LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho’s opening remarks set the tone for the evening. He reaffirmed the importance of creativity and technology in education, sending a powerful message: the arts matter, and these young music creators are the future.

A moving moment came when three extraordinary educators—Jolly Rodriguez, Thomas Tacke, and Lester Vazquez—were honored for their outstanding dedication to music education. As recorded messages from their students and colleagues played, the room filled with emotion. These educators don’t just teach music; they change lives. Their recognition was a reminder of the incredible impact educators have on shaping the lives of their students.

*Honored educator Jolly Rodriguez reacts to the grateful words of her students*

*Outstanding Educators Jolly Rodriguez, Thomas Tacke & Lester Vazquez*

Then, the moment everyone had been waiting for—the competition. Guest judges 6ix, Zyah Belle and Kevin Chung had the impossible task of selecting their favorites from a lineup of astonishing talent. As each track played, the audience erupted into cheers, claps and spontaneous dances. The excitement was a testament to the raw, next-level talent of each finalist and honorable mention booming from the speakers.

*The crowd awaits the announcement of the winners*

*Producer finalists Mitchell Coleman, Matthew Evaristo, Abel Yabut and guest judge 6ix*

*Vocalist finalist Moa Ball, Layla Wiliams, Kayla Pincus & guest judge Zyah Belle*

*Instrumental finalists Juddah De Sousa, Akira Armstrong-Moran, Lily Sturges & guest judge Kevin Chung*

Just when the crowd thought the night couldn’t get any better, Zyah Belle took the stage. Her unforgettable performance and words of encouragement reminded students of their power to change the world through music.

More than $100,000 in prizes were awarded to the winners, a life-changing investment into the dreams of these young artists. Additionally, every student in attendance received gifts from Artiphon, Roland and other sponsors, ensuring that they all left with new tools to continue to fuel their creativity.

*$100k worth of prizes awarded to the winners*

*Producer finalist Matthew Evaristo shows off his prizes*

*Finalists Mitchell Coleman, Judah De Sousa & Layla Williams collect their prizes*

Events like this prove that music education is not just about learning music theory and practicing scales; it’s about innovation, originality and empowering students to make the music they love. A project-based, creativity-driven, and industry-aligned approach to music education has already transformed lives and continues to empower students with the skills and opportunities needed for successful careers in the music industry.

*YPG’s Lawrence Grey & Soundtrap’s Leandro Otero*

It was an honor to witness the immense talent of these young artists and to see our community rally around them. The future of music is being written right now, in real-time, by these students.

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible sponsors—The Annenberg Foundation, Sweetwater, Riot Games, Artiphon, Roland, AiAiAi, Fender, and Class Dojo—for making this incredible event possible.

Elevate your school’s music program with YPG’s innovative music technology curricula

Listen to the original music from the SoCal Beat Battle 2024 finalists

Producer Category

Finalists: Abel Yabut, Matther Evaristo, Mitchell Coleman

Honorable Mentions: Jason Aleflor, Lily Sturges, Telon Tarpley, Amos Green, Gabriel Birnschein, BoJameson Ebling, Nico Hubby, Diego Villalobos Bracamonte, Jenner Yaep

Vocalist Category

Finalists: Moa Ball, Kayla Pincus, Laylah Williams

Honorable Mentions: Kathryn D’Costa, Emma Jame Irwin, Eleanor Chatzipantsios, Diego Villalobos Bracamonte, Jordan Williams, Jeremiah Watkins, Jaden Bolden

Instrumentalist Category

Finalists: Lily Sturges, Akira Armstrong-Moran, Judah De Sousa

Honorable Mentions: Diego Lozano, Jackson Petty, Hudson Allen