KYCC Celebrates Rooted & Rising: 25th Annual Benefit Concert at The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall

On August 20, 2026, KYCC presented its Rooted & Rising: 25th Annual Benefit Concert at The Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall in Downtown Los Angeles. The annual benefit concert was presented by Comerica Bank, a Division of Fifth Thirds Bank, and raises unrestricted funds to support programs and services across KYCC. For 18 years, our concert has been held in partnership with the Korean American Music Foundation (KAMF), whose talented KYCC Festival Orchestra accompanied all of our evening’s performers. 

«Our 25th Annual Benefit Concert is more than a celebration of music—it is a celebration of community,» said Johng Ho Song, Executive Director of KYCC. «We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported KYCC over the past five decades. Through this year’s theme, Rooted and Rising, we hope to honor our shared history while inspiring hope for the future and continuing to build a stronger, more connected Los Angeles.»

Our Masters of Ceremonies were Alex Reid, the first black K-Pop idol, and Suzie Suh, news anchor for CBS Los Angeles, who led our audience through the evening of unforgettable musical performances. The evening began with KAMF’s KYCC Festival Orchestra playing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, 4th Movement. They were then joined by gayageum master and National Intangible Cultural Heritage Holder, Yang Seung-Hee, who performed traditional and contemporary gayageum songs for our audience. 

Throughout the evening we were joined by German-born, London-raised singer-songwriter Arlissa, who performed her new single «Turn My World To Color» and a cover of Whitney Houston’s «I Have Nothing.» 

Following a brief intermission, we welcomed Grammy award-winning La Santa Cecilia, as they brought their Pan-American rhythms to the stage, performing «Amar Y Vivir,» «Hojas En El Aire,» and «Como Dios Manda.» 

Our final performance of the evening was by Korea’s beloved ballard and original soundtrack queen, Baek Ji-young. Bringing her iconic vocals to our show, she performed «I Won’t Love,» «That Woman,» «Like Being Shot by a Bullet,» and «Don’t Forget.»

A huge thank you to all of our sponsors who made Rooted & Rising possible. For more information about KYCC’s Annual Benefit Concert, click here.