In 2025, Pacific Chorale’s story was written in big, shared moments—masterworks that filled the hall, new partnerships that expanded what choral music can be, and community collaborations that brought our voices where they mattered most. As we reflect, we’re grateful for every listener, donor, singer, volunteer, and partner who helped make this year possible.

Reminisce with us and the moments we shared.

Performances

Handel’s Israel in Egypt — March 29, 2025 – Our Lady Queen of Angels, Newport Beach

Handel’s vivid score and thrilling double choruses reminded us how cinematic Baroque music can feel in a resonant sanctuary—made even more special by reuniting with Bach Collegium San Diego.

Mozart’s Requiem — May 24, 2025 – Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

An unforgettable performance—and notably our highest-attended concert outside of the holiday programs—powered by Mozart’s final masterpiece and the energy of a full hall.

58th Opening Night — October 25, 2025 – Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

We opened the season with the world premiere of Jocelyn Hagen’s What the Soul Already Knows, paired with Poulenc’s jubilant Gloria—then celebrated together at a post-concert reception.

Holidays with Pacific Chorale – December 2025

From Carols by Candlelight to Tis the Season!, you showed up in full—and every holiday concert sold out! What we heard afterward (and felt in the room) was exactly why these concerts have become an Orange County tradition: the warmth of candlelight, the collective exhale of a full audience singing together, and the kind of festive brilliance that makes the season feel real.

Education & Engagement

Pacific Chorale provided nearly 11,000 contact hours of singing education across our programs:

• Pacific Chorale’s Choral Festival — Presented in association with Segerstrom Center for the Arts. After an intensive three-day rehearsal experience, our Festival Chorus took the stage for a free concert—complete with a world premiere organ prelude written for the occasion by Dr. Jung-A Lee.
• Pacific Chorale Academy — in partnership with Boys & Girls Club after school programs, enrollment soared up 50% from last semester. Our hearts are full watching these elementary students complete their session with performances full of heart and confidence.
• Pacific Chorale Choral Camp, in partnership with Cal State University, Fullerton School of Music — In another record-breaking-enrollment year, high school student learned from expert faculty in a 5-day intensive to polish their performance skills and develop the confidence, discipline, and teamwork that will serve them far beyond the stage. 

Guest Appearances & Recognition

LA Phil — The Planets (“Neptune”) Pacific Chorale singers lent their voices to the ethereal fade-out of “Neptune,” earning a beautiful note in San Francisco Classical Voice.

Pacific Symphony — Beyond our annual appearances in Handel's Messiah, Lunar New Year, and the Opera, Pacific Chorale enjoyed two milestone performances:

• Maestro Carl St.Clair led the Pacific Symphony and Pacific Chorale in a monumental performance of Verdi's Requiem in June 2025, marking the grand finale of his 35-year tenure as Music Director for the Symphony in Costa Mesa. 
• Our first collaboration with conductor Alexander Shelley. Together we brought Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé to life with singers positioned both onstage and from the Grand Tier, creating a true surround-sound experience.

Beyond the Concert Hall

To the Hands — Film festival recognition

Pacific Chorale’s film To the Hands expanded its reach beyond the concert hall—bringing this powerful work to new audiences on the big screen. The film was an Official Selection and received its world premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival, marking a major milestone in the project’s festival journey. 

 That momentum continued with exciting recognition on the circuit: To the Hands won Best Experimental Feature Film at the 2025 Culver City Film Festival. 

New Community Partnership with City of Hope Orange County

Pacific Chorale aligned with City of Hope Orange County in three moments that placed music at the center of healing, reflection, and shared community.

• “Hope Rings Out” at South Coast Plaza (July 19–20, 2025): Chorale members performed live sets alongside City of Hope’s moving bell-dedication installation, inviting visitors to pause, remember, and add their voices to a weekend of collective hope.
• The Spirit of Hope: Spiritual Care Center blessing broadcast (August 20, 2025): We joined clerics from across Orange County for a virtual interfaith blessing of the Wetterau Family Spiritual Care Center: music offered as comfort and connection, reflecting the spiritual diversity of our community.
• City of Hope Orange County Cancer Specialty Hospital Ribbon Cutting (November 19, 2025): We were proud to take part in the celebration of Orange County’s only cancer specialty hospital as City of Hope marked a major milestone in expanding access to leading-edge cancer care close to home.

Community Engagement & Collaborations with Local Arts Organizations

Segerstrom Family’s Tree Lighting at South Coast Plaza

To welcome the holiday season, our singers helped light the iconic South Coast Plaza Christmas tree at Town Center Park during their festive annual celebration on November 21st. The showcase featured highlights from Tis the Season!, accompanied by members of the Pacific Symphony. A staple for many locals, this year’s Tree Lighting featured the resident artists and arts organizations of the Segerstrom campus that present Southern California’s favorite holiday traditions and provide arts education opportunities to our community.

Festival of Children

Pacific Chorale was proud to take part in the 24th annual Festival of Children® in September at South Coast Plaza, alongside nearly 60 Orange County organizations celebrating National Child Awareness Month. We enjoyed seeing friends and meeting many new faces at our booth. Thank you to all the families who stopped by to visit, or meet us and learn about the Chorale’s education programs for children.

Milestones, Leadership Gifts, & Legacy

NEA award for a major new commission: In January, we announced a $15,000 National Endowment for the Arts award supporting a commissioning and performance project featuring a major new work by American composer Jocelyn Hagen.

A significant estate gift established the Ron Rudderow Legacy Fund, strengthening Pacific Chorale’s mission and helping support innovative programming and key roles like our Assistant Conductor chair.

We gathered with Legacy Society members for a pre-concert dinner and an intimate evening centered on community, music, and shared purpose.

Artistic Director Robert Istad appointed soprano Jessica Dalley to the Rita Major Memorial Chair, honoring Rita Major’s extraordinary legacy of service and artistry.

Spotlights & Remembrances

We also took time to celebrate the people whose devotion sustains this organization: David and Darrellyn Melilli, Diana Hensley, Lori Loftus, and Jim and Karen McBride.

And to honor those we lost: Patricia “Trish” O’Donnell, Elizabeth Dempster Stahr, Elizabeth Pearson, Jerry Moulton, George Reiss, and most recently, Karen McBride.

Final Note

If 2025 reminded us of anything, it’s that choral music isn’t just something you hear—it’s something you join. Whether you came once, come often, or are discovering us for the first time, we hope you’ll be in the room with us again soon.