John Williams returns to North Hollywood High, which honors him with new performing arts center

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“Curly” Williams returned to his old high school campus last week for the first time in 76 years, but did so under his given name — the same name emblazoned on North Hollywood High’s newest attraction: the John Williams Performing Arts Center.Williams, 94, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony last Wednesday, which commenced with the composer’s rousing “Raiders March” played by the school’s marching band and accompanied by its blue-clad cheerleaders.“I think you played that better than we could have,” Williams said, speaking from a wheelchair under the sign of his namesake venue in front of other accomplished alumni and friends, including producer Kathleen Kennedy.“That’s a hard piece.”For the record:9:37 a.m.

May 4, 2026A previous version of this article said Michael Stebbins designed the John Williams Performing Arts Center.The center was designed by CO Architects.

Stebbins served as project manager.The ambitious construction project, initiated in 2015 and designed by CO Architects occupies 35,000 square feet and seats 800.The center is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities to host student performances and school assemblies, but also to train the next generation of theater technicians.

Besides an enormous stage, blue velvet curtains, a mixing console and safe catwalks, the building also features new classrooms and rehearsal spaces.A 75-foot hand-painted mural in the lobby, still in the works by artist Ian Robertson-Salt, is inspired by Williams’ formidable filmography, which serves “as a daily reminder to every student who walks these halls that greatness can begin right here,” remarked Andrés Chait, acting superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District.Due to health complications, Williams has made few public appearances in the last two years.He last conducted a concert in February 2024 — and he has also consistently turned down ...