FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
A circle represents more than a shape. Circles symbolize a story, a journey, and a promise of connection. Pacific Chorale’s 2025-2026 season embraces this timeless symbol, inviting you to join our artists in a year of reflection, celebration, and inspiration through music.
Our season begins with Jocelyn Hagen’s transformative new work, a meditation on what we hold sacred in our lives today. From the bonds we form to the natural world we cherish, her music weaves a circle of meaning that resonates deeply within us all. Celebrate the joy of the season with our cherished Christmas concerts, where festive traditions create a sense of belonging and shared wonder. In spring, Eric Whitacre’s The Sacred Veil offers a poignant exploration of love, loss, and renewal, a reminder that even life’s most profound changes lead us back to connection.
We close this remarkable season with Artistic Director Emeritus John Alexander’s return to the stage, honoring nearly six decades of leadership that has shaped Pacific Chorale’s story.
Step into Pacific Chorale’s circle—our story is not complete without you.
With love, Robert Istad
Phillip N. and Mary A. LyonsArtistic Director
Choral Festival (FREE!)
Sun, Aug 17, 2025 at 5:00pm
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa
Poulenc & Hagen
Sat, Oct 25, 2025 at 7:00pm
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa
Carols by Candlelight
Sat, Dec 6, 2025 at 8:00pm Wed, Dec 10, 2025 at 8:00pm
Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Newport Beach
Tis the Season!
Sun, Dec 21, 2025 at 5:00pm Mon, Dec 22, 2025 at 7:00pm
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa
Whitacre’s
The Sacred Veil
Sat, Mar 21, 2026 at 8:00pm
Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Newport Beach
A Serenade to Music
Conducted by John Alexander Sat, May 23, 2026 at 7:00pm
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa
PLATINUM SEASON SPONSOR: Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons
CORPORATE SEASON SPONSOR: The Capital Group
Pacific Chorale is a proud Resident Company of
WORLD PREMIERE COMMISSION
POULENC & HAGEN
SAT, OCTOBER 25, 2025 7:00PM
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Costa Mesa
“What do we hold sacred in our lives today? What makes something sacred? Traditionally the word has described objects or places. In choral music, it usually denotes music performed or composed for the Christian church, and makes up the majority of pieces we sing. But in the 21st century, we are looking for a different definition. For me, the word can apply to ideas, relationships, and intangibles such as time. Like so many things in life, we choose what is sacred to us, and live our lives accordingly.” – Jocelyn Hagen
Robert Istad CONDUCTOR
Pacific
Chorale
Pacific Symphony
Francis Poulenc Gloria Jocelyn Hagen WhattheSoulAlreadyKnows
SEASON SPONSOR: Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons
CONCERT SPONSORS: Commissioned in partnership with The Washington Chorus. Commission, premiere, and recording underwritten by the Ron Rudderow Legacy Fund.
Celebrate the joyous spirit of choral music in this concert showcasing Poulenc’s exuberant Gloria alongside Jocelyn Hagen’s captivating new work. Poulenc’s score sparkles with brilliant brass fanfares, playful rhythms, and haunting soprano solos—expertly weaving together moments of drama and delight. Treat yourself to an evening of musical splendor as these two works combine tradition and innovation in a truly stirring performance.
Pacific Chorale is excited to collaborate with Minnesota-based composer Jocelyn Hagen and Native American Grammy Award-winning interdisciplinary artist Ty Defoe on a new seven-movement oratorio for symphonic chorus and orchestra.
Explore the values and ideas that today’s culture holds sacred. What is essential to our lives and necessary for our happiness and well-being? What significance do these things hold, and why? For many people, land is sacred and holds a deep spiritual connection. People have similar relationships with water: our seas, lakes, and rivers. For others, it is the environment or the animal kingdom. Our relationships with ourselves and each other can also inhabit sacred bonds. Newly commissioned poetry will explore these relationships and why they are special. The work will remind us that “not everybody has a god, but everyone has a religion.”
PLATINUM
CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2025 AT 8:00 PM WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2025 AT 8:00 PM
Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Newport Beach
“Seeking a candlelit experience, one that celebrates both ‘timeless traditional and contemporary holiday music’? Make for Newport Beach over the first weekend of December for a line-up of lovely and luminous seasonal songs.”
– Alicia Gray Painter,
NBC4
Robert Istad, CONDUCTOR Members of Pacific Chorale
Experience the perfect start to your holiday season in the hushed sanctuary of Our Lady Queen of Angels, as the Chorale’s chamber singers perform music that evokes the spirit of awe and joy this time of year brings. With Rob’s signature blend of timeless and contemporary carols, this intimate performance is a treasured favorite for audiences seeking a moment of peace and beauty during the holidays.
PLATINUM SEASON SPONSOR: Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons
CONCERT SPONSORS:
Trish O’Donnell in loving memory of John O’Donnell
TIS THE SEASON!
SUN, DECEMBER 21, 2025 AT 5:00PM
MON, DECEMBER 22, 2025 AT 7:00PM
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa
“The best Christmas experience you’ll have all year.” have all year.”
Robert Istad CONDUCTOR
Pacific Chorale
Members of Pacific Symphony
Southern California Children’s Chorus
The Man in Red, Santa!
The Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall comes alive with holiday magic as Pacific Chorale’s annual extravaganza takes center stage! A cherished Orange County tradition, “Tis the Season!” lights up the stage with a sparkling mix of seasonal classics and whimsical surprises, creating the perfect festive outing for the whole family.
PLATINUM SEASON SPONSOR: Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons
ERIC WHITACRE’S
THE SACRED VEIL
SAT, MARCH 21, 2026 8:00PM
Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Newport Beach
“Whenever there is birth or death, The sacred veil between the worlds Grows thin and opens slightly up, Just long enough for Love to slip, Silent, either in or out Of this our fragile, fleeting world, Whence or whither a new home waits. And our beloved ones draw near, In rapt anticipation, or In weary gratitude, they stand; Our loved ones stand so close, right here, Just on the other side Of Eternity.”
CHARLES ANTHONY SILVESTRI
Step into a musical journey as Pacific Chorale’s chamber choir brings Eric Whitacre’s The Sacred Veil to life. This sweeping 12-movement masterpiece, born of a love story touched by loss, embraces the universal need for hope and healing. Coupled with other thrilling Whitacre works, The Sacred Veil promises an inspirational evening of music that transcends boundaries.
Robert Istad CONDUCTOR
Members of Pacific Chorale
PLATINUM SEASON SPONSOR: Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons
CONCERT SPONSOR:
A SERENADE TO MUSIC
CONDUCTED BY JOHN ALEXANDER
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR EMERITUS
SAT, MAY 23, 2026 7:00PM
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Costa Mesa
SUBSCRIBE
John Alexander CONDUCTOR
Pacific Chorale
Pacific Symphony
Ralph Vaughan Williams SerenadetoMusic
W. A. Mozart ReginaCoeliin C, K.276 LaudateDominum(Psalm 117) from Vesperaesolennesdeconfessore,K.339
Anton Bruckner Ave Maria and Psalm150
Johannes Brahms Schicksalslied,Op. 54 (SongofDestiny)
Lili Boulanger SoirsurlaPlaine (EveningonthePlain)
Frank Ticheli EarthSong
Jake Heggie SeekingHigherGround
Step into an evening of profound reflection and celebration as Pacific Chorale welcomes back beloved Artistic Director Emeritus John Alexander. This event promises to be a deeply meaningful and unforgettable season finale. Framed around the healing power of music and its vital connection to humanity and nature, this thoughtfully curated program explores the serenity, beauty, and resilience found within the art form to which John Alexander has devoted his life. Through the soaring lyricism of Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music, the brilliance of Mozart and Bruckner’s sacred works, and the emotional depth of Brahms’ Schicksalslied, John invites us on a
journey that speaks to the soul and the world we inhabit. The program crescendos with modern reflections on the human experience—Lili Boulanger’s evocative Soir sur la Plaine, Frank Ticheli’s moving Earth Song, and Jake Heggie’s powerful Seeking Higher Ground each resonating with themes of hope, community, and our shared responsibility to care for one another and our planet.
In what John has shared may be his final time conducting Pacific Chorale, the evening concludes with a deeply personal and poignant farewell from a maestro who has given decades of his artistry and heart to Orange County.
Come celebrate John Alexander’s legacy, the enduring power of music, and the beauty of a shared moment that honors both the past and the future. This is more than a concert—it’s a tribute to the transformative force of music and the remarkable man who has shaped Pacific Chorale’s voice for generations.
PLATINUM SEASON SPONSOR: Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons
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CONNOISSEUR PACKAGE
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CENTER SERIES
All three concerts at Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Costa Mesa. Starting at $94
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SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS
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Select your favorite seats before tickets go on sale to the general public.
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Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
Poulenc & Hagen
10/25/25
Tis the Season!
• ONLINE: Visit pacificchorale.org
• BYPHONE: Call us at (714) 662-2345
• INPERSON/BYMAIL: 9am – 5pm, Mon – Fri 3303 Harbor Blvd.,Suite E5 Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Our Lady Queen of Angels
Carols by Candlelight
The Sacred Veil
CONTRIBUTIONS:
$60 INTRO TO THE ARTS SCHOLARSHIP(S)
Enables high school students to attend Pacific Chorale performances free of charge.
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Our Lady Queen of Angels
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
For 57 years, Pacific Chorale has brought world-class choral music performances and education programs to Orange County. Now poised for a period of tremendous growth, we invite you to join us on a journey to create a sustainable future for choral music in Orange County. We are committed to providing outstanding performances and education programs for community members of all ages to enjoy and participate in this transformative art form.
Nearly 50% of Pacific Chorale’s revenue comes from our generous donors. Will you help us continue to inspire our community, and ensure that this art form lives on in Orange County for generations to come?
DONOR BENEFITS
•Recognition in Concert Programs
•Invitations to exclusive events such as Post-Concert Receptions with featured composers, Season Announcement events, and intimate holiday season gatherings
•Personalized ticketing services, including access to premium seats
Voice your support online at PacificChorale.org/Support
THANK YOU TO OUR LEADERSHIP SUPPORTERS
Pacific Chorale is grateful to our Platinum Season Sponsors Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons and the many individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies. This support helps fulfill our mission to inspire our community through artistry and innovation in choral performances and education programs.
INDIVIDUALS
$100,000 AND ABOVE
Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons
Lenora Meister
Vina Williams*and Tom Slattery
$25,000 TO $99,999
Karl and Marilyn Forsstrom
Hans and Valerie Imhof
Janice Johnson
John and Lori Loftus
Trish O’Donnell
Dennis and Marcía O’Hern
Charles and Ling Zhang
EDUCATION & COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Education is central to Pacific Chorale’s mission. That is why we support programs designed to advocate a love of singing for all ages.
17 TH ANNUAL CHORAL FESTIVAL
FRI, AUGUST 15–17, 2025
FESTIVAL CHOIR PARTICIPANTS
SUN, AUGUST 17, 2025 AT 5:00PM FREE COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE
Renée and Henry Segerstrom
Concert Hall, Costa Mesa
Robert Istad CONDUCTOR
Jung-A Lee ORGAN
Pacific Chorale’s Festival Chorus
FREE EVENT!
Selections from Bernsteinʼs Mass Adolphus Hailstork IWillLiftUpMineEyes WeShallWalkThroughtheValley (arr. Undine Smith Moore)
This festival joins hundreds of community members with the voices of the GRAMMY ® Award-winning Pacific Chorale!
PLATINUM SEASON
SPONSOR:
CONCERT
Experience one of the country’s foremost music venues at no cost. Festival choir participation registration opens May 1st, and free concert tickets are available starting July 1, 2025.
SPONSORS: Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons
CHORAL CAMP
HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER CAMP!
JUNE 23–27, 2025
Cal State Fullerton
CHORAL CAMP, presented in partnership with Cal State Fullerton, gives high school students an intensive week to hone their vocal and musical skills with professional artist-educators. Registration now open.
INTRO AND PASSAGE TO THE ARTS provides hundreds of free concert tickets annually to students and members of the community in partnership with schools and social service organizations.
PACIFIC CHORALE ACADEMY, offered to students in grades 2-6 at selected partner sites, has been recognized nationally for its unique combination of music education and community building. As part of a choir, students learn persistence, teamwork, and responsibility along with musical skills, all in a joyful and positive setting.
For more information, contact education @pacificchorale.org, call (714) 662-2345, or visit pacificchorale.org
