Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Ambassador Auditorium

    4.5 (14 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

    The Ambassador Auditorium Photos

    You might also consider

    More like The Ambassador Auditorium

    Recommended Reviews - The Ambassador Auditorium

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Nevin A.

    I am glad that I spent quality time with my family at Pasadena Ambassador Auditorium. I attended Beethoven Violin Concerto. The conductor was François López -Ferrer and the Violinist was Francisco Fullana. The performance was such a unique, magical and memorable experience. The Auditorium is located on the Ambassador College campus.The venue is very glamorous and perfectly manicured. I loved the huge Chandelier that was dangling in the center of the foyer. You can purchase the ticket either online or by phone. For the parking, prepaid parking ticket is available and for $10 which is very convenient. The Concert Program book is offered digitally as well as in a hard copy. They offer refreshment starting two hours before the concert and during the intermission. You can pre-order your drink or food in advance and pick them up during the intermission. The staff and the volunteers were very organized and very friendly. It was such a magnificent night. I am interested in all the coming events and for sure I will come here frequently.

    Armenian Pops Orchestra, conducted by Greg Hosharian, March 26, 2017.
    John S.

    It's a beautiful place to attend a classical concert. And a certain Dutch saxophonist with whom I share the honor of providing one of my nephews with a middle name says that the acoustics are dry, which is apparently good for classical music. I don't know enough to know enough about that, but I believe him because the sound is very good, even to my untrained ear(s). My parents and my cousin remember that I attended a guitar concert here in the late '80s or early '90s, and although I remember where we ate afterward (https://www.yelp.com/biz/russells-pasadena-2), I don't remember that concert. So how am I writing this review? Well, that same cousin, who was twelve or thirteen at the time we attended that concert, recently conducted a concert at the Ambassador. Growing up, huh? He was amazing. The orchestra was amazing. With all this amazingness going around, why only three stars? Logistics. The on-site staff aren't very good at their jobs. One would assume that there would be some rhyme or reason to providing guest services at a musical auditorium, but it felt as if the ushers and other staff members who work here had just shown up and seen the place for the first time fifteen minutes before their shifts started. Staff members were yelling at people to take their seats. They weren't yelling because they were angry (although they might have been); they were yelling to make themselves heard. A PA system might be a good thing to have. Once people entered the auditorium, the ushers weren't very helpful. They walked with people, but they didn't seem to have any idea which rows and seats were where. And throughout the performance itself, late-arriving concertgoers were trying to figure out where their seats were because the ushers didn't do (or didn't know how to do) their jobs, which is to efficiently and quietly seat people as quickly as possible in order to disrupt the concert as little as possible. The parking situation is also problematic, and it will only get worse when the nearby construction has finished and thousands of new people move into the neighborhood. Speaking of nearby construction, those new buildings really do ruin the serenity and beauty of the setting. The outside of the auditorium itself reminds me A LOT of the Foley Building (where I worked for four years) on LMU's campus, including the fountain, but the Ambassador is more beautiful, and its fountain and entire water element is more impressive, including the sculpture. To recap: Great place to attend a concert, with excellent sound. Lovely setting that is being made worse by added (and unneeded) density. Poorly trained staff and iffy parking. Should you see a concert here? Yes! But be sure to arrive early so that you have enough to find your seat on your own.

    See all

    Photo of Regis K.
    495
    928
    19069

    11 months ago

    Helpful 35
    Thanks 5
    Love this 26
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 3
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 30
    Thanks 7
    Love this 23
    Oh no 0
    Photo of RM C.
    0
    53
    0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dawn F.
    307
    644
    2370

    7 years ago

    Helpful 20
    Thanks 0
    Love this 21
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John M.
    459
    194
    1759

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John S.
    890
    3004
    4462

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of A. R.
    73
    126
    16

    11 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lionel T.
    110
    137
    7

    17 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sara L.
    168
    1387
    1062

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - The Ambassador Auditorium

    Review Highlights - The Ambassador Auditorium

    As I and my husband went to see the concert it focused on a violinist and a hugely popular conductor.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Performing Arts 7,767 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Young Stars Theatre Academy

    Young Stars Theatre Academy

    4.8(20 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    1,000 stars if I could!!!! We cannot imagine our life without YSTA!…read more We stumbled upon it looking online for a musical theater company for our then 7-year old. She has been in almost every production in the four years since and LOVES it - it is the highlight of her week, both artistically and socially. I've seen other companies where they rehearse for 5 months and end up doing just a couple of performances; YSTA has the perfect ratio of a couple of months' worth of rehearsals and 6 performances for regular-season shows (camps are more compact). The kids are responsible for everything, not just acting! Our daughter has grown thanks to YSTA not only as a singer and performer but also in her confidence and independence. We love YSTA!!!

    Our daughter started at YSTA for a winter camp a couple years back when she was just 6 years old!…read moreShe's loved her time there so much! We were amazed at what Gloria and her team could do with these kids in that short amount of time (1 week) and the joy that they all show on stage. The warmth that Gloria gives these kids transcends down and the older kids are so kind to the younger ones. The older ones even come back to direct, costume design, and watch the shows. Our daughter has been in 8 shows at YSTA now - including camps and season shows. She always grows as a performer in every show with YSTA. YSTA is our daughter's happy place, and we couldn't be more grateful to have found such a wonderful community for our girl. She will continue to go to YSTA and continue to grow here as a performer. Thank you to Gloria and her team!

    Photos
    Young Stars Theatre Academy
    Young Stars Theatre Academy
    Young Stars Theatre Academy

    See all

    Pasadena Playhouse - Beverage selections for their lovely Wine Wednesday (October 2025)

    Pasadena Playhouse

    4.3(409 reviews)
    1.1 miDowntown

    My wife and I have been season ticket holders for a couple years now and we absolutely LOVE this…read moretheater. It's got a lot of historic charm and a very intimate audience-to-stage feeling. Very good acoustics. The staff are always very friendly and helpful. The first show of a new run is always on a "Wine Wednesday" where your ticket gets you a free glass of wine before the show. The theater is in the middle of an area with easy access to bars, restaurants, and parking.

    We always have a great time at the Pasadena Playhouse! I usually get free tickets, and we typically…read moresit way, way up at the very top. If you have poor eyesight, I definitely would not recommend those upstairs seats because it can be pretty difficult to see everything happening on stage. The staff and people are always nice, but one thing I would definitely consider is the steep slope when walking down from the upper levels. It feels very steep and could be easy for someone to slip or fall, especially when navigating the stairs and walkway. There's also always this smell up at the top. there's no good circulation in the whole area which if you have respiratory problems, I would not recommend this place. It's usually stuffy and has an odd smell. I Wish they had air purifiers throughout the whole location.

    Photos
    Pasadena Playhouse - The Box Office Staff Were Friendly & Efficient!

    The Box Office Staff Were Friendly & Efficient!

    Pasadena Playhouse - It's a full house for the sold-out opening night for Julia Masli's ha ha ha ha ha ha ha (October 2025)

    It's a full house for the sold-out opening night for Julia Masli's ha ha ha ha ha ha ha (October 2025)

    Pasadena Playhouse - The schoolhouse set

    See all

    The schoolhouse set

    Encore Music & Performing Arts - A child performs her violin recital at the Encore Spring Costume Concert

    Encore Music & Performing Arts

    4.4(5 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    Kid friendly
    Committed to satisfaction

    This review is an experience event. Thank you Thuy! For granting my wish to have a taste of what it…read morefeels like to play a violin! Mr. Greg is such a people person, especially encouraging to future young musicians. He's teaching method is methodical to achieve preciseness. For instance, the instruments were tuned prior to class and beat maker is pretty much on throughout the class. Toward end of the class, the parent can listen to what was learned from the lesson. I can definitely tell the difference, I am able to make (not so irritated) notes and play some patterns after 1 hour. Highly recommend this friendly environment in this nice community.

    My son has been taking lessons at Encore Music for about 3 years. During that time, we've had some…read morereally wonderful teachers, and he has made some progress. However, over time, we felt that he had become a little too comfortable, and his learning had plateaued. We had already been considering making some changes, and a recent experience with the front desk ultimately pushed us to make that decision. Several months ago, I brought up the fact that one of the cameras in the lesson rooms was not working. Unfortunately, instead of the issue being resolved, it has gotten worse. When I brought it up again last week, I found that multiple cameras were now malfunctioning. When I asked about it, the response I received from the front desk was rude and came with an unnecessary attitude. I was essentially told that I was welcome to go into the lesson room with my child. Parents being asked to accompany their children into the lesson room should not be the long-term solution to a problem that has been ongoing for months. If cameras are provided for a reason, they should be functioning, particularly when lessons involve an adult teacher alone in a room with a child. What bothered me the most was not simply that the cameras were not working, but the attitude I received when I raised a concern. The fact that the situation went from one malfunctioning camera months ago to multiple malfunctioning cameras, with no apparent resolution, was concerning enough. Being met with that kind of attitude when I brought up the issue was the final push for me. Feeling comfortable with the environment and knowing that legitimate concerns will be taken seriously is important. This experience made me realize that Encore Music may no longer be the right place for my son.

    Photos
    Encore Music & Performing Arts
    Encore Music & Performing Arts
    Encore Music & Performing Arts

    See all

    Art Work Place - So happy making art!

    Art Work Place

    4.4(21 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    Women-owned & operated
    Locally owned & operated

    Art/Work/Place has been an amazing experience for our family. Our 8-year-old has been in Mrs…read more Billy's class for over a year, and we knew it was something special when he came home and gave us a drawing lesson! Our son is naturally quiet and shy, but Mrs. Billy has helped him build confidence by encouraging him to express his own ideas and interests in his artwork and we can't thank her enough for how that has helped him come out of his shell in the classroom and beyond! Mrs. Billy also takes the time after class to update us and offer insights and constructive feedback on his creative growth. Based on our experience, I'd advise parents to take negative reviews with a grain of salt. All the teachers and staff here are genuinely so nice and unlike programs that focus mainly on copying pictures, Art/Work/Place balances technical skill building with creativity, imagination, and play. As someone who works as a designer in the gaming industry and has an art background, I can honestly say they're teaching kids the right way to learn art. Our son is already excited to be back in the fall!

    My son is 8 years old and comes here once a week to Ms Billy's class and always looks forward to…read moreit. It's a place where he receives careful supervision and instruction but it's also a place where he feels free to create and his style and quirks are appreciated. At the recommendation of his teacher at his elementary school, my son recently submitted a portfolio and completed a supervised exam to be considered for entry into a respected conservatory for students who show promise in the visual arts- this conservatory hosts this admission process once a year, so it's a big deal and there are a TON of kids and it's very competitive. The exam portion includes completing a still life and a free draw, both supervised. My son passed and is now under consideration. It's true he has some God-given talent and drive, but we could not have given our son the guidance that Art/Work/Place provided, and he had been attending this studio for about six/seven months by the time he submitted his portfolio. We actually didn't even tell Art/Work/Place or Ms Billy that our son was going to be doing this or submitting any kind of portfolio, so whatever they taught him they were teaching to other students and without prejudice. He went from drawing quirky and funny pictures at home to composing quite beautiful and sophisticated still life pieces, and I have been so impressed by how much more motivated my son is to really create on his own. Bottom line, my son loves this studio, it's one of his safe spaces, and Ms Billy has been so encouraging and so kind and enthusiastic, and she was so proud to hear about our son's accomplishment. Right now we just want to see how far he will go here. We really appreciate all they do.

    Photos
    Art Work Place - Explore: Fauvism by Eileen, age 10.

    Explore: Fauvism by Eileen, age 10.

    Art Work Place
    Art Work Place - Beautifully monochromatic by Elyse, age 14, for our 2019 Student Show!

    See all

    Beautifully monochromatic by Elyse, age 14, for our 2019 Student Show!

    The Ambassador Auditorium - theater - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...