QUICK TAKES - Nov. 5, 2009

In eight short years, the Harmony Project has gone from L.A.’s toughest neighborhoods to the glitz of the White House.

On Wednesday, First Lady Michelle Obama presented the music-education organization with the Coming Up Taller Award, which recognizes youth-oriented arts and humanities programs nationwide. Each year, 15 organizations are chosen to receive the award, which comes with a $10,000 prize.

Founded in 2001, L.A.’s Harmony Project provides classical-music education for low-income children. The organization is based in Hollywood but does much of its work with youth from the South-Central area as well as other regions.

Speaking by phone from Washington, Harmony founder Margaret Martin said the organization will use the $10,000 prize money to help pay for teachers and other professionals. Harmony currently has about 50 instructors and 750 students.

-- David Ng