A group of senior citizens from Los Angeles’ Koreatown has become an unexpected playoff sensation, captivating NHL fans with spirited harmonica performances that have accompanied a string of victories for the LA Kings.
Each week, around 50 participants attend harmonica lessons at the Koreatown Senior and Community Center, located just minutes from Crypto.com Arena. The program, which began seven years ago, has previously taken its talents to Lunar New Year festivals, Mother’s Day celebrations, and city council meetings. This year, the group made its debut on hockey’s biggest stage.
After a successful first performance in March, 14 top players from the class were invited to perform the U.S. national anthem before the Kings’ playoff opener against the Edmonton Oilers on April 21. The rendition, played on harmonicas and accompanied by fans singing in unison, quickly went viral—turning the seniors into unexpected internet stars and lucky charms for the Kings.
“We practise a lot,” said 80-year-old Donna Lee, who joined the center in 2023 for traditional Korean dance classes and eventually took up the harmonica. “It’s a very happy, simple instrument.”
Though she had never played an instrument before, Lee began practising daily and was eventually selected as one of the 14 members for public performances. She said she now feels confident and relaxed during each show.
The Koreatown Senior and Community Center, which opened in 2013, plays a crucial role in the community. It provides essential services to the largest Korean population in the U.S., including mail translation assistance and enrollment in food distribution programs. With 47 different classes and around 1,500 participants, it remains a hub of activity and support for the area’s elderly residents.
The LA Kings first approached the center in January to help plan a special K-town Night on March 23. Kwanil Park, the center’s executive director, suggested the harmonica group perform the U.S. national anthem. The seniors delivered ahead of a 7-2 win over the Boston Bruins.
“On this night we were honouring Koreatown and they performed the Star Spangled Banner on harmonica,” the Kings said in a statement to The Washington Post. “In a very organic moment, our crowd started singing along word for word. We felt it was a very unique outcome and something that was very engaging and could be something quite impactful for the playoffs, so we invited them back.”
Dressed in traditional Korean hanbok, the seniors reprised their performance before Game 1 of the playoffs. Once again, the crowd joined in. The Kings triumphed 6-5. Lee, attending her first-ever hockey game, was elated.
“There’s a lot of people singing together,” she said. “We don’t know hockey, but when we saw the L.A. Kings were going to win, we (were excited), then we (were) just shouting.”
The harmonica players were invited again for Game 2, this time wearing Kings jerseys. The team won decisively, 6-2. Since the group began performing, the Kings have outscored their opponents 19-9 over three games.
Their run of luck, however, hit a snag when a retirement home in Alberta shared a TikTok video featuring their own kazoo rendition of the Canadian anthem. That night, the Kings lost 7-4—their first defeat of the series.
Still, the harmonica troupe’s joyous presence has resonated far beyond the rink. In a playoff season full of surprises, these dedicated seniors have found themselves at the heart of the Kings’ playoff story—bringing pride to Koreatown and a fresh rhythm to hockey nights in LA.
