The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra has announced it has received a $2 million donation from Joan and Jeff Beal to create the Joan and Jeff Beal Fund for Living Composers.

This generous grant will support the commissioning of new compositions from contemporary composers. The first two recipients of this initiative are Michael Abels, acclaimed for his film scores for Get Out and Us, as well as his opera Omar, and Eímear Noone, known for her compositions for World of Warcraft and her work on 28 video games and films. Abels' composition will be featured by the orchestra in the 2025-26 season, and Noone's in 2026-27.

Joan and Jeff Beal expressed their excitement in a statement: "Having lived and worked in Los Angeles for over 30 years, we’ve come to admire the exceptional talent of LACO musicians—who perform everything from blockbuster film scores to classical masterpieces by day and night. LA is also home to some of the world’s most brilliant and influential composers, whose music resonates globally. We believe only in LA could such a dynamic collaboration between these two worlds happen, and we hope our gift will inspire many exciting partnerships and performances, helping LACO thrive as a leader in a new era of concert music."

LACO Executive Director Ben Cadwallader also expressed his gratitude: "We are incredibly thankful to Joan and Jeff Beal for their generous and visionary gift. The Joan and Jeff Beal Fund for Living Composers will offer LACO audiences the unique opportunity to be among the first to hear new works by both well-established and rising composers who are making an impact in the entertainment industry. These commissioned pieces will not only enrich Los Angeles but also become a lasting part of the global classical music repertoire for years to come."