On behalf of everyone at Pacific Chorale, we are deeply saddened to share the news that Emeritus Board member Vina Williams passed away in the early hours September 27, 2022.
Vina has been a stalwart member of the Pacific Chorale family since 1969. She was a frequent featured soprano soloist, a Board member for multiple terms, and continued to sing as a member of the Chorale for many decades. A fierce and generous advocate for classical music and artists, she underwrote multiple Chorale concerts, chaired our Gala fundraiser three times, and was instrumental in the establishment of our Encore Society for planned giving. In 2014 we recognized Vina’s many contributions to the Chorale and to Orange County’s musical culture by awarding her the Entrepreneur in the Arts Award.
Our thoughts go out to her husband Tom, son Craig, and to all Vina’s loving family and friends.
A memorial service, open to all family and friends, will be held on Saturday, October 29 at 1pm in Grace Lutheran Church, 6931 Edinger Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92647.
In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the Pacific Symphony, www.pacificsymphony.org; and Pacific Chorale, www.pacificchorale.org.
Vina Williams has been a fixture with Pacific Chorale since 1969, when she began as a singer and soprano soloist with the then-called Irvine Master Chorale. The following year she joined the Board for a four-year term and as part of that Board, hired a young, up-and-coming conductor named John Alexander. In addition to singing for many decades with Pacific Chorale, Vina began to give generously of her own resources and leadership to support the artistic projects of the Chorale, first underwriting a concert in 2001 in memory of her first husband, after his passing.
Vina was also integral in establishing a legacy planned giving program, the Encore Society, for Pacific Chorale, helping to shepherd more than 30 families to establish giving plans in support of the Chorale’s enduring future. Vina rejoined the Board in 2005, and during this time she served on the Development and Executive Committees and chaired with her present husband the Christmas Galas from 2011 to 2013, and has also co-sponsored several underwriting parties for the Galas in recent years.
In 2014, Vina Williams was awarded the Entrepreneur in the Arts Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of her long and generous giving history to Pacific Chorale. In 2020, the Board of Directors chose to recognize Vina for her four decades of service to our organization, by naming her a Director Emeritus of Pacific Chorale.
Today, Vina remains a stalwart supporter of Pacific Chorale’s mission to inspire our community through artistry and innovation in choral performances and education programs. Vina and her husband Tom have graciously offered to match incoming donations to our year-end campaign up to $10,000.
We hope you choose to join Vina and Tom in their generosity by contributing to Pacific Chorale today!
On behalf of everyone at Pacific Chorale, we are deeply saddened to share the news that Emeritus Board member Vina Williams passed away in the early hours September 27, 2022. Vina has been a stalwart member of the Pacific Chorale family since 1969. She was a frequent featured soprano soloist, a Board member for
Continue ReadingDOUBLE YOUR DONATION! From now until December 31st, all contributions given to our year end campaign will be matched dollar for dollar (up to $10,000) by Vina Williams and her husband Tom Slattery! Donate Here Vina Williams has been a fixture with Pacific Chorale since 1969, when she began as a singer and soprano soloist with
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