Pacific Chorale is saddened to learn of the passing of Elizabeth Pearson, who served as our President & CEO. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her loved ones and to all who knew her through Laguna Beach civic life and Orange County’s arts community. 

Elizabeth dedicated her career to connecting people through public service, through the arts, and through the kind of community-building that outlasts any single project or season. 

Her leadership at Pacific Chorale

Elizabeth joined Pacific Chorale in 2013, bringing a background in marketing and fundraising and a clear belief in widening the circle of support that makes ambitious artistic work possible. During her tenure, she served as President & CEO through August 31, 2018. She was also part of the organization during a milestone moment: Pacific Chorale’s “Golden Anniversary” season and the arrival of Robert Istad as Artistic Director. 

A life of public service and advocacy

In Laguna Beach, Elizabeth was known as a deeply committed civic leader—serving six years on the Planning Commission and 12 years on City Council, including three terms as mayor. 

Among the many efforts remembered by the community: helping families find temporary housing and securing resources after the Bluebird Canyon landslide, and championing initiatives that supported seniors, including the Susi Q Senior Center. 

In a 2014 interview, she described her role in recovery efforts as bringing people together and being “a source of inspiration and hope”—a sentiment that resonates strongly with why we gather for choral music in the first place. 

Honoring her memory

We’re grateful for the time Elizabeth devoted to Pacific Chorale and for the ways she helped strengthen the community around choral music in Orange County. 

If you’d like to honor Elizabeth’s belief in community, we invite you to join us in the concert hall—bring a friend, introduce someone new to choral music, and be part of the shared experience that makes this art form thrive. And if you’re able, a gift in any amount helps sustain the performances and education programs that reach thousands of people across our region each year. 

Elizabeth Pearson was born January 1, 1952, and passed away September 25, 2025. A memorial service will be held in October.