Pacific Symphony

Celebrate the extraordinary legacy of Carl St.Clair with Under the Baton, airing on PBS SoCal this week! In honor of his landmark 35th anniversary with Pacific Symphony, this special documentary, produced by Maria Hall Brown, takes you on a journey through St.Clair’s inspiring story as the longest-tenured American-born conductor of a major American orchestra. Catch the first airing tonight at 10:30 PM on PBS SoCal Plus, with several more airings this week, or stream it now at: https://lnkd.in/gvSQ7vky Video courtesy of PBS SoCal

Learn more about the story behind "Fiat Lux" in this very special behind-the-scenes featurette with composer Sir James MacMillan, librettist Dana Gioa (Poet Laureate of the State of California), Pacific Symphony Music Director Carl St.Clair, Pacific Chorale Artistic Director Dr. Robert Istad, and Howard and Roberta Ahmanson. Watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/gu_imY7c

"Let there be light (fiat lux) is first a glimmer, and then, there is light." –Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times In June 2023, Pacific Symphony and GRAMMY-winning Pacific Chorale joined forces for the world-premiere performance of Sir James MacMillan and Dana Gioia's “Fiat Lux” led by Music Director Carl St.Clair. The commissioning and recording of Sir James MacMillan’s Fiat Lux, as well as the world-premiere performances in the 2022-23 Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation Classical Series, were made possible by a generous grant from Howard and Roberta Ahmanson, Fieldstead and Company, and the National Endowment of the Arts. Approximately 30 minutes long, Fiat Lux is a single through-composed movement made up of five sections: “In the Beginning,” “Chorus,” “Litany of Light,” “Light of the World,” and “Hymn: Cathedral of Light.” You can now watch the full live performance and a special behind-the-scenes featurette on our YouTube channel. https://lnkd.in/gFNYS3Nj Sir James MacMillan, composer Dana Gioia, librettist Pacific Symphony, Carl St.Clair, music director and conductor Pacific Chorale, Robert Istad, artistic director Elissa Johnston, soprano Christopher Maltman, baritone David Ball, Organ Christian Amonson, Recording producer John Downey, Recording engineer

🎺 Let your holidays hit a high note! This December, Pacific Symphony brings the joy of the season to life with unforgettable performances for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re cherishing timeless classics or creating new traditions, join us for these festive concerts: ✨ Tue, Dec. 17: Holiday Organ Spectacular — A heartwarming evening of seasonal favorites performed on our grand concert organ, hosted by Principal Trumpet Barry Perkins. ✨ Fri-Sat, Dec. 20-21: Joss Stone: Merry Christmas, Love — GRAMMY® winner Joss Stone delivers soulful renditions of beloved holiday classics. Celebrate the season with us! https://lnkd.in/g-CxUKYw

Our Principal Pops Conductor, Enrico Lopez-Yañez, recently sat down with the City of Costa Mesa for an exclusive interview to discuss audience engagement in Southern California, the exciting lineup for our 2024-25 Pops Season, and his extraordinary rise as one of the nation’s leading conductors of popular music. 🎥 Watch the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/gtVbKUaM

Chamber music at baggage claim? Consider your holiday travels upgraded. ✈️ This morning, a Pacific Symphony string quartet brought the joy of live music to travelers at John Wayne Airport, creating moments of peace and delight amidst the holiday hustle. 🎻✨Wishing everyone safe travels and a happy Thanksgiving! Here’s to a season filled with joy, connection, and music. A heartfelt thank you to John Wayne Airport for hosting us and to KTLA 5 News for their wonderful coverage of this special performance. #PacificSymphony #ClassicalMusic #HappyHolidays

Traveling this Thanksgiving holiday? Catch a moment of peace and joy amidst the holiday rush! ✨ A Pacific Symphony string quartet will be performing live on Monday, Nov. 25, from 10–11:30 AM in Terminal A Baggage Claim at John Wayne Airport 🛬 (SNA). Let the soothing power of music bring a little delight to your busy travel day! 🎶

A message from your next Artistic and Music Director, Alexander Shelley. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eSws58ti

“What an exciting day for Pacific Symphony! I am pleased and honored to welcome Alexander Shelley as the third Music Director of Pacific Symphony. His talents as a conductor, music director and community builder have been lauded and praised internationally. More importantly, he has captured the hearts and has inspired the musicians of Pacific Symphony, ensuring that the future of Pacific Symphony is in great hands as we lead into our 50th Anniversary. I know you will join me in welcoming Alexander Shelley, as I am proudly passing the baton to him.” – Music Director Carl St.Clair Learn more about our next Artistic and Music Director, Alexander Shelley: https://lnkd.in/eSws58ti

Meet Alexander Shelley Pacific Symphony’s newly-appointed Artistic and Music Director! With a distinguished career leading world-renowned orchestras, Shelley brings fresh vision, innovative programming, and a deep dedication to our community. He will step fully into this new role in the 2026-27 season. The appointment of Alexander Shelley to this post marks a significant inflection point in Pacific Symphony’s legacy. While recognizing the conclusion of St.Clair’s tenure as Music Director—the longest for an American-born music director of a major U.S. orchestra—Pacific Symphony welcomes its third-ever artistic leader in Shelley, who brings his international experience to Orange County. One of the foremost conductors of his generation, Alexander Shelley is “a natural communicator, both on and off the podium” (Daily Telegraph), regularly performing across six continents with the world’s finest orchestras and soloists. Learn more about his journey and what’s next for Pacific Symphony as we enter this exciting new chapter together! https://lnkd.in/eSws58ti