Pacific Chorale is internationally recognized for exceptional artistic expression, stimulating American-focused programming, and influential education programs. The Chorale presents a substantial performance season of its own and is sought regularly to perform with the nation’s leading symphonies. Under the inspired guidance of Artistic Director John Alexander, Pacific Chorale has infused an Old World art form with California’s hallmark innovation and cultural independence.

Recent press: "[Alexander] conducted with an incisive hand throughout, pacing with assurance and digging into [the work's] meat. The chorale sang magnificently, richly voiced, polished and secure..." [read more]

"...longtime artistic director John Alexander displayed the chorale’s stunning range, its command of colors and dynamics, its textual sensitivity, its vocal power and the potency of its quiet singing.... With the sterling and immaculate collaboration of the Pacific Symphony, the total performance was a model of stylishness." — Daniel Cariaga, Los Angeles Times

"The erudite, adventurous conductor John Alexander, who crushed Bach against Ligeti..., showed the composers to be, at least for the moment, soul mates.... The singers displayed admirable focus and concentration. They held and sustained the unresolved harmonic tension without drifting toward the comforts of home."— Peter Lefevre, Orange County Register [read more]

"...emerging from nowhere with a spot-on start, pristine harmonies, expansive open vowels and a meditative, sometimes melancholic, sensibility." — Orange County Register

"Alexander and his singers triumphed with purity, focus, refinement and artistry...." — Los Angeles Times

• American Masterpieces Choral Festival

  Thank you to everyone who helped to make the Festival a huge success!

  We could not have asked for a better, more enthusiastic turnout for this incredible event. Thank you to all the singers, directors, alumni, audience members and SING! participants. Thank you as well to our Composers-in-Residence for their generous and energetic contributions, and congratulations once more to Young Composers Competition winners Zach Wadsworth and Michael Eglin.  

  Photo galleries of the Festival events can be found on our Facebook page!

  High school, college and community choral ensembles from the Southern California community gathered at the Orange County Performing Artscenter on April 21-23, 2008 for this three-day festival of workshops and free community performances. Highlights included:

  • Day-long festival for 200 high school choristers, culminating in a mass community performance from Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall stage
  • Luncheon and panel discussion with guest composers Morten Lauridsen, Eric Whitacre and Alice Parker
  • Bus-in performances for K-8 students featuring the John Alexander Singers
  • Community sing-along led by Alice Parker
  • Pacific Chorale alumni reunion and performance
  • World premiere performance of winning compositions from Pacific Chorale's Young Composers Competition
  • Pacific Chorale's American Festival Chorus, made up of 500 choral singers from throughout the community

  Made possible, in part, by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts as part of "American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius."

  Additional support provided by Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons, The Capital Group Companies, Inc., Wells Fargo, C.J. Segerstrom & Sons, The R.C. Baker Foundation, and the Orange County Performing Artscenter.

  Read more details here.