On Sept. 19, 2022, Pacific Symphony announced that Music Director Carl St.Clair and Pacific Symphony’s Board of Directors have come to agreement on a two-year extension of his contract for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, with an option for additional extensions. The new agreement reaffirms his commitment to Pacific Symphony, its musicians, and to the community of supporters and friends that he will continue to be the artistic leader for Pacific Symphony.
While making this important commitment, Maestro St.Clair asked the Board to begin shaping a succession plan and to commence a search for his successor in a fashion that will assure a continuity of leadership. Until the Symphony has secured a successor, St.Clair will continue as music director. There is no specific timetable, and this will afford the Board, musicians, and staff the freedom to assess potential candidates very carefully over time allowing for a seamless transition.
“I am so grateful to Carl for remaining committed to Pacific Symphony. As visionary and orchestra builder, Carl has possessed a singular commitment to Orange County. He has a deep love for the musicians with whom he has collaborated,” says Pacific Symphony President and CEO John Forsyte. “It has been thrilling to listen to and watch the chemistry of this orchestra evolve and grow over the three decades of Carl’s tenure. He has inspired the community, initiated national models of education and community engagement programming, designed fascinating festivals, commissioned important composers, and led our development to the top tier of American orchestras. Of course, this is a point of great emotion for all of us who love Carl’s work. We know that Carl will have a significant role with Pacific Symphony for the foreseeable future.”
“I am pleased to salute Maestro Carl St.Clair on his years of dedication and support of classical music in Orange County. Carl has fostered a beautiful relationship with the singing musicians of Pacific Chorale and created a partnership between Pacific Chorale and Pacific Symphony that I believe is truly unique in American classical music. My colleagues, Artistic Director Emeritus John Alexander, and I are so grateful Carl dedicated his musical career to programming great masterworks for chorus and orchestra, complete operas, and numerous commissions written for our combined forces. Personally, I am grateful for Carl’s generous mentoring. He has been a creative and inspiring force in my life for over twenty years. I cherish our friendship and the many profound truths I’ve learned from him. I will forever be grateful that Carl St.Clair came into my life, and that we had the opportunity to work together and grow together. My colleagues in Pacific Chorale certainly share this sentiment, as do the millions of people in our community his gracious spirit has touched, and we look forward to celebrating every moment we spend with him during the next two years. Congratulations, Carl!” — Artistic Director Robert Istad
Maestro St.Clair joined Pacific Symphony in 1990 and is only the second music director in the orchestra’s 44-year history. “I am grateful to the community and our patrons for showing so much support for the orchestra and me all these years. I have been granted a unique gift to be part of the development of an institution from its early period,” St.Clair shared. “The musicians of Pacific Symphony and I have shared an extraordinary 33-year journey, and I am honored that the Board has extended my contract for two seasons, and that I will remain music director through 2023-24, if not longer. I am pleased to reaffirm my commitment to Pacific Symphony and pledge my commitment to continue to be part of the Symphony Family for many years to come.”
Yesterday evening, members of Pacific Symphony and Pacific Chorale came together for a concert of healing at Geneva Presbyterian Church – Laguna Woods. The Rev. Dr. Steven Marsh from Geneva Presbyterian Church and the Rev. Dr. Albany Lee from Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church offered words of comfort and hope.
“There are so many ripples that pass through the fabric of Orange County when something like this happens,” Pacific Symphony Music Director Carl St.Clair said. “We need to do all we can with the strengthening and healing powers of music.”
The program included a world premiere (“Hymn of Healing”) and works by Haydn, Mozart and former Pacific Symphony composer-in-residence Frank Ticheli.
Read more about the Concert of Healing on Voice of OC: “A Concert Helps Heal the Wounds of a Senseless Tragedy at Laguna Woods Church”.
Photos © Doug Gifford Photography
A Night with Mozart and Salieri, and the Amazing Pacific Chorale
By Truman C. Wang for classicalvoice.org Read the full review here.
“The Pacific Chorale deserved the highest accolade of the evening, giving thrilling accounts of Dies irae and two reconstructed fugues by Levin (the Osanna fugue and the Amen fugue at the end of Lacrimosa). But they were most memorable in the simple motet Ave verum corpus, in a sublime reading of peace, serenity and otherworldly beauty that, for three minutes at least, delivered the listener from the pains and sufferings of worldly existence.”
Pacific Chorale performs in Pacific Symphony’s Mozart & Salieri concert under the baton of Maestro Carl St.Clair © Doug Gifford Photography
Pacific Chorale regularly performs with Maestro Carl St.Clair and Pacific Symphony.
Learn where you can see Pacific Chorale in concert here.
Press Contact: Libby Huebner, libbyhuebner562@gmail.com, 562.799.6055
Saturday, May 7, 2022, 7:00 pm,
at Samueli Theater, Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa
COSTA MESA, CA (February 15, 2022) – Grammy-nominated Pacific Chorale, considered one of the nation’s leading choirs, wraps its 2021-22 Season in grand style with its annual gala, “A Celebration of the Voice,” honoring two very special friends of the choir – Pacific Symphony’s Maestro Carl St.Clair, who has conducted the chorus on numerous occasions over more than three decades, and esteemed Orange County business owner and philanthropist Lenora Meister, currently in her 51st season singing in Pacific Chorale’s soprano section – on Saturday, May 7, 2022, 7:00 pm, at the Samueli Theater, located at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, immediately following the Chorale’s season-closing concert. St.Clair will be recognized with the Lifetime Award for Artistic Excellence. Meister will receive the Entrepreneur in the Arts Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition to feting these two arts stalwarts, the gala features a sumptuous dinner, a special musical tribute to the honorees, raffle and live auction. Proceeds benefit Pacific Chorale’s performances and music education and outreach programs throughout Orange County.
“We are thrilled to conclude Pacific Chorale’s season with this magnificent and joyous gala celebration honoring Carl St.Clair and Lenora Meister for their incredible lifetime achievements and monumental impact on the chorus and the broader artistic community,” says Pacific Chorale CEO & President Andrew Brown. “They both have been an integral part of the choir’s fabric for decades, helping to foster Pacific Chorale’s rise to one of the country’s leading choirs. Carl has long championed the chorus, generously sharing with the organization his remarkable artistry and musical zeal while serving as a trusted and valued friend who always has the choir’s – and the community’s – best interests at heart. Lenora embodies the spirit of philanthropy, giving so generously not only financially but also of her own time and notable vocal talent, greatly enriching Pacific Chorale and the community at large. We are deeply grateful to both Carl and Lenora and so proud to recognize them for their selflessness and achievements that have enhanced Orange County in myriad ways.”
“A Celebration of the Voice” is chaired by Susan Lindley. Gala committee members include Carla Neeld, Pat Newton, Marcia O’Hern, Carl Porter, Beth Varney, Julie Virjee and Amanda Whiting.
St.Clair, currently in his 32nd year leading Pacific Symphony, is one of the longest-tenured conductors in America. His lengthy history solidifies the strong relationship he has forged with the musicians and community. He has become widely recognized for his musically distinguished performances, commitment to building outstanding educational programs and innovative approaches to programming.
Meister, who joined Pacific Chorale’s soprano section in 1971, just three years after the chorus was founded, holds the record of singing with Pacific Chorale longer than anyone in history. As the President & CEO of Salt-Away Products, she has also provided both personally, and through her company, generous philanthropic support to Pacific Chorale, including underwriting the choir’s participation in the sold-out 2018 tour to Carnegie Hall with Pacific Symphony under St.Clair’s baton.
Pacific Chorale’s 2021-22 Season is made possible by generous support from Platinum Season Sponsor Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons, Silver Season Sponsor Charles and Ling Zhang, and Silver Season Corporate Sponsor Salt-Away Products.
Gala tickets begin at $300/person. The Samueli Theater is located at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.
Audience members must show proof of vaccination and wear masks inside the venue (COVID protocols detailed below). For tickets and information, visit www.pacificchorale.org or call 714-662-2345.
PACIFIC CHORALE, an Orange County “treasure” with a “fresh viewpoint” that “can sing anything you put in front of it, with polish, poise and tonal splendor” (Orange County Register) has “risen to national prominence” (Los Angeles Times) since its inception in 1968. Hailed for delivering “thrilling entertainment” (Voice of OC), the resident choir at Segerstrom Center for the Arts is noted for its artistic innovation and commitment to expanding the choral repertoire. It has given world, U.S., and West Coast premieres of more than 35 works, including numerous commissions, by such lauded composers as John Adams, Jake Heggie, James Hopkins, David Lang, Morten Lauridsen, Ravel, Tarik O’Regan, Karen Thomas, Frank Ticheli, András Gábor Virágh, and Eric Whitacre. In addition to presenting its own concert series each season, Pacific Chorale enjoys a long-standing partnership with Pacific Symphony, with whom the choir made its highly anticipated Carnegie Hall debut in 2018. The chorus also regularly appears with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, earning two 2022 Grammy Award nominations – Best Choral Performance and Best Engineered Album, Classical – for its contribution to the live classical recording of “Mahler: Symphony No. 8, ‘Symphony of A Thousand,’” conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, featuring Leah Crocetto, Mihoko Fujimura, Ryan McKinny, Erin Morley, Tamara Mumford, Simon O’Neill, Morris Robinson and Tamara Wilson; Los Angeles Philharmonic; Los Angeles Children’s Chorus, Los Angeles Master Chorale, National Children’s Chorus and Pacific Chorale. The choir has performed with such leading orchestras as the Boston Symphony, National Symphony, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, and Musica Angelica, among others. Pacific Chorale has garnered international acclaim as well, having toured extensively to more than 19 countries in Europe, South America, and Asia, and through collaborations with the London Symphony, Munich Symphony, L’Orchestre Lamoureux and L’Orchestre de St-Louis-en-l’Île of Paris, National Orchestra of Belgium, China National Symphony, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Estonian National Symphony, and Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional of Argentina, among others. Deeply committed to making choral music accessible to people of all ages, the organization, which has a discography of 14 self-produced recordings and an extensive collection of exceptional free digital offerings, places a significant emphasis on choral music education, providing after-school vocal programs for elementary school students, a choral summer camp for high school students, and an annual community-wide singing event at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. www.pacificchorale.org
# # #
EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:
WHAT:
Pacific Chorale Presents
“A Celebration of the Voice”
WHEN:
Saturday, May 7, 2022, 7:00 pm
WHERE:
Samueli Theater, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
TICKETS/INFORMATION:
Gala tickets begin at $300/person (does not includes concert admission)
www.pacificchorale.org
714-662-2345
COVID PROTOCOLS
Pacific Chorale continues to make the health and safety of its patrons, artists and community its top priority and has adopted the requirement that all audience members attending indoor performances be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In order to be considered fully vaccinated, patrons must confirm that at least 14 days have passed since receiving the second dose of FDA or WHO authorized double-dose vaccines or that at least 14 days have passed since receiving the sole dose of FDA or WHO authorized single-dose vaccines. Audience members may display proof of vaccine on a smartphone or by showing a physical copy of their vaccination card or official vaccination record. Children under 12 and those who are unvaccinated due to a medical or religious reason must provide proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken no more than 48 hours prior to attending. Rapid or antigen tests will not be accepted. All guests, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear masks while inside the concert venue. These safety protocols will be re-assessed on an ongoing basis and may be adjusted as public health circumstances evolve. The Chorale is closely monitoring industry and government guidance regarding the COVID-19 virus, including information supplied by the State of California, California Department of Public Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Orange County Department of Public Health. For information on Pacific Chorale’s most current health and safety protocols, please visit https://www.pacificchorale.org/covid-returning-to-live-performances/.
Artists, date, program and venue subject to change
# # #
On Sept. 19, 2022, Pacific Symphony announced that Music Director Carl St.Clair and Pacific Symphony’s Board of Directors have come to agreement on a two-year extension of his contract for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, with an option for additional extensions. The new agreement reaffirms his commitment to Pacific Symphony, its musicians, and to
Continue Reading
Yesterday evening, members of Pacific Symphony and Pacific Chorale came together for a concert of healing at Geneva Presbyterian Church – Laguna Woods. The Rev. Dr. Steven Marsh from Geneva Presbyterian Church and the Rev. Dr. Albany Lee from Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church offered words of comfort and hope. “There are so many ripples that
Continue Reading
A Night with Mozart and Salieri, and the Amazing Pacific Chorale By Truman C. Wang for classicalvoice.org Read the full review here. “The Pacific Chorale deserved the highest accolade of the evening, giving thrilling accounts of Dies irae and two reconstructed fugues by Levin (the Osanna fugue and the Amen fugue at the end
Continue ReadingPress Contact: Libby Huebner, libbyhuebner562@gmail.com, 562.799.6055 PACIFIC CHORALE HOSTS ANNUAL GALA, “A CELEBRATION OF THE VOICE,” HONORING MAESTRO CARL ST.CLAIR AND CHOIR MEMBER LENORA MEISTER WITH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS Saturday, May 7, 2022, 7:00 pm, at Samueli Theater, Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa COSTA MESA, CA (February 15,
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