COVID Health and Safety – Updated 3/29/2023
Even as the public emergency status of COVID ends, the safety and well-being of participants continues to be our top concern. To continue to provide a comfortable and safer singing environment, proof of vaccination will be required for participation in the 2023 Festival chorus. The current working assumption is that conditions will allow for mask-optional singing in 2023, but we reserve the right to require additional protocols as warranted.
Choral Festival FAQs
With public health in mind, we are making a limited one-time exception to our usual refund policies:
- Participants who withdraw from the festival with at least 15 days of advance notice will receive a refund of their participation fee, minus $40 for the music that was purchased and mailed on your behalf.
- Participants who withdraw with fewer than 15 days of notice for Covid-related reasons will also be offered a partial refund if they provide proof of a positive antigen test or close exposure.
- No refunds will be provided to participants who do not provide advance notice via email of their intention to withdraw.
- Advance notice should be provided by email to festival@pacificchorale.org.
Registration will go live on May 1 at 10:00 a.m. at www.pacificchorale.org/choral-festival
No early registrations will be allowed. If you are traveling or otherwise unable to get online at the time that registration opens, we suggest that you find a reliable friend or family member to register you on your behalf. Here is the information they will need:
First Name, Last Name
How do you want your name to appear in the program?
Address, Daytime Phone , E-mail address
Voice Part (Soprano Alto Tenor Bass) and Divisi (First or Second)
Height in concert shoes
Are you a Pacific Chorale Alumna/us?
Chorus(es) you sing with (Your choir affiliations will be listed with your name in the program book)
Special seating requests, mobility, or accessibility issues
The cost for 2023 participants is $145, which includes all of your music (which you get to keep) and a commemorative CD. The Sunday night performance is free, but tickets are required.
Due to the extreme popularity of this event, many sopranos and altos will end up the waiting list. We know you are disappointed and will do our best to accommodate as many singers as possible within the constraints of stage space and choral balance. Please be patient and we will contact you by e-mail if a spot becomes available for you.
This program is designed and paced for adults. That said, anyone who is at least 16 and is able to keep up with an adult choir rehearsal is welcome. There is no upper age limit.
Music will be mailed in the last 2 weeks of June. We will provide all participants with choral scores for all the pieces we are performing.
Choristers are expected to prepare independently. But there are lots of online resources to help you. We will share them in June when we send your music.
Friday – Check in begins at 6:15. Rehearsal from 7:00-10:00 p.m.
Saturday – rehearsals from 10 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. and 2:15 – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday – dress rehearsal at 2:00 p.m. Concert at 5:00 p.m.
The concert is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Tickets will be available online in early July.
The rehearsals are very casual, so come as you are.
For the concert, you will need to wear all black.
Option 1: Top – All black with long sleeves. Bottom – All black slacks, dress, or skirt, mid-calf or longer.
Option 2: Black or charcoal suit, black shirt, straight tie of any color(s).
Everyone: Black shoes and socks/hosiery. Sandals are okay. Understated jewelry or accessories including post earrings, watches, wedding bands, and Pacific Chorale service pins are all OK.
Parking in the structure behind the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall (next to the Westin Hotel) will be a flat rate of $12 on Friday & Sunday night. This is the most convenient location to access the stage entrance.
Map and details of parking structures and festival locations
Patrons of South Coast Plaza may park at the mall.
Your MUSIC in a BLACK binder or choir folder
A pencil to make notes
A water bottle with a lid to wet your whistle
As few valuables as humanly possible – there is no secure backstage storage for purses, etc.
Reminder – on Sunday, you need to come to rehearsal already dressed in your concert clothes. There is not space backstage for 400 of you to change!
Audience tickets will be available in July and will ONLY be available online at www.scfta.org. Audience tickets are free, but reservations are limited to 4 per transaction since this concert sells out every year.