TOM AND BONNIE PRIDONOFF ON LEGACY GIVING
AND THE NEXT 60 YEARS OF PACIFIC CHORALE
By Natalie Oswald, Associate Director of Development
Tom and Bonnie Pridonoff have each shaped Pacific Chorale in meaningful ways: Bonnie as a devoted alto since 1988, and Tom as a dedicated board member since 2015 who also served as Board Chair from 2018 to 2020. Together, their story reflects a deep love of choral music, a shared belief in its power to bring people together, and a commitment to ensuring Pacific Chorale thrives for generations to come. In this conversation, they reflect on what makes the Chorale so special, why they chose to include it in their legacy plans, and what they hope to see in the next 60 years of Pacific Chorale’s journey.
Natalie: Bonnie, as a current singer with Pacific Chorale, what sets the Chorale apart from other ensembles you have sung with?
Bonnie Pridonoff: What stands out most to me is the artistic excellence of Pacific Chorale. It is a thrill to sing alongside such extraordinary artists – and what audiences may not realize is that most of the ensemble is made up of volunteers. Roughly 70% of the singers you hear onstage in the full choir are dedicated volunteers (myself included), alongside 30% who are staff/employee artists. Some of our volunteer singers have been with us for over 40 years! That is an incredible amount of donated talent, and it comes from genuine devotion to this group.
Natalie: You are one of 53 donor households who have included Pacific Chorale in your estate plans. What led you to make this decision about legacy giving?
Tom Pridonoff: When Bonnie and I were thinking about our estate plans, we thought carefully about the institutions that have mattered most in our lives, and it went without question that included Pacific Chorale. Bonnie’s participation as a singer and my time on the Board of Directors have meant so much to us both. We know firsthand that singing brings people together. In fact, it brought us together! Throughout our lives, singing has been a refuge from the ordinary and the mundane and a source of great joy. That’s why we want future generations to have the same chance to experience what choral music can offer. I would encourage others to ask themselves: are there organizations that have made a lasting impact on your life? If so, wouldn’t it be meaningful to invest—at whatever level you can—so others might have the opportunity to share in that same experience?
Natalie: In addition to your Legacy Commitment, you recently doubled your annual giving in support of the PC@60 Society, a visionary group of supporters who have made a multi-year commitment to help launch Pacific Chorale into its milestone 60th Anniversary Season in 2027-28. Thank you for your generosity! What would you love to see Pacific Chorale become as we look to the next 60 years?
Bonnie Pridonoff: I want the Chorale to continue as the home of exceptional choral music in Orange County, where artists can give the best of themselves and audiences can experience concerts of superb caliber. We increased our gift because supporting that home takes committed financial investment.
Tom Pridonoff: As the future of federal funding grows more uncertain, I hope Pacific Chorale continues to develop relationships across the community and inviting new partners, new audiences, and new donors to experience how powerful this music is. That kind of shared investment is what will sustain the Chorale in the decades ahead.
