los angeles mayor antonio villaraigosa lit a piece of los angeles’ history at the jr. phil’s 69th anniversary concert spectacular on april 26, 2006 when he lit the orchestra’s “mayor’s good luck candle,” presented to founder-conductor ernst katz and his young people’s orchestra by the citizens of olvera street in 1947. first lit by los angeles mayor fletcher bowren at the orchestra’s 10th anniversary, the candle symbolizes the important connection between the city of los angeles and youth in music as fostered by katz.