The Story Behind Next Degree Music Co.
Next Degree Music Co. curates live entertainment for weddings, corporate events, private parties, and venues across Los Angeles, powered by select student musician talent.
We build ensembles one musician at a time, from elegant string quartets to 10-piece pop bands and DJs, bringing high-quality entertainment to our clients.
Our network of media and production talent also includes student photographers, videographers, and audio engineers who execute high-end entertainment coverage.
Who We Are
We began as a small network connecting high school musicians with real, paid performance opportunities in the Bay Area. Next Degree has since grown into a Los Angeles-based company alongside a strong Bay Area summertime presence.
We carefully select our musical talent from top universities including UCLA, USC, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and more.
Where We Started
Submit an Inquiry; tell us about your event or what you have in mind, the info, and the vibe you want.
We build your entertainment request to perfection, selecting musicians one at a time, arranging music, and creating a presence to fit exactly what you’re looking for.
Shape the set list together. You approve all music in advance.
We handle all the logistics. Booking, Load-in, timing, sound, and coordination with your venue or planner.
One point of contact from first inquiry to final set; we manage everything.
A flawless, simple experience for quality live music.
How We Work
We raise the bar.
Great live music is the whole point. Next Degree exists to deliver entertainment that's reliable, professional, and genuinely worth booking. The top student musicians behind that quality deserve more opportunities, and that's the mission beneath us.
We’re founded by a musician and work differently. Every booking runs on fair pay, smooth coordination, and working management that respects the people making the music, not just the listeners. Better treatment makes better performances, and that's the standard behind every set we put on stage.
Every audience deserves live music that feels meaningful, intentional, and high quality.
Our Mission
Leo Wornick established Next Degree Music Co. to solve a systemic issue he experienced firsthand, with ten years as a drummer and six years of professional experience: the widespread underpayment and undervaluation of skilled young musicians.
Recognizing that world-class student talent was consistently expected to perform for next to nothing, Next Degree was founded with a clear, uncompromising mission to ensure that talented student musicians receive the professional management, compensation, and respect their craft commands. Leo focuses on the company’s overarching creative direction, strategic growth, first inquiry, and setting the rigorous standards for the student musicians and production team.
Leo is committed to developing a collaborative network of top-tier talent and production professionals. By establishing a framework that delivers flawless execution for all clients, Leo is passionately driven to bring exceptional live music to all audiences and events.
The name Next Degree is a play on words, reflecting our belief that a musician's most important education begins when they step into the professional world.
Founder and Director, Leo Wornick
Photo by Jonah Kunis Photography