A SERENADE TO MUSIC
CONDUCTED BY JOHN ALEXANDER ARTISTIC DIRECTOR LAUREATE
MAY 2026
Photo: Jeremy Daniel
Riverdance 30
The Sound of Music Circa: Eternity
Photo: David Kelly
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Welcome
Dear Patrons,
We are delighted to welcome you to a vibrant May filled with creativity, connection, and celebration.
Celebrate Mother’s Day with the whole family at The Invisible Boy, an uplifting and imaginative production that reminds us how a simple act of kindness can spark something extraordinary. Another special highlight this month welcomes families to explore the powerful connection between creativity and discovery. The Center is proud to host the Beckman Arts and Science Family Festival, produced in partnership with the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation. The Studio D Showcase: Dive In! is an inspiring performance features students of all abilities sharing their talents through dance, music, and a lively staging of Disney and Pixar’s Finding Nemo JR., celebrating inclusion, creativity, and the power of storytelling. All month long, our campus comes alive with opportunities to move and connect. Tuesday Night Dance returns to the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza, inviting guests of all ages and abilities to learn new styles from talented local instructors in a joyful, welcoming atmosphere. We’re also thrilled to present Riverdance 30—The New Generation, a reimagined global phenomenon celebrating three decades of Irish dance. The new production blends the iconic energy of the original with fresh innovation from a new generation of performers.
To close the month, Pacific Symphony presents Shelley Conducts America at 250, a bold musical tribute led by Artistic and Music Director Designate Alexander Shelley.
Thank you for being an essential part of our community!
Casey Reitz President & CEO
Board of Directors
John H. Phelan Jr., Chair
Casey Reitz, President & CEO
Stewart R. Smith, Treasurer
Sally S. Crockett, Secretary
Julia A. Argyros
Bart Asner, M.D.
Jesse Bagley
Marta S. Bhathal
Louise Bryson
Mark Chan
Sandra Segerstrom Daniels
Andra Greene Ellingson
John Ginger
Jackie Glass
Carole Haes Landon
Wendy Hales
Betty Huang
Molly Jolly
John H. Phelan Jr. Chair, Board of Directors
Roger T. Kirwan
Harmon Kong
Karla Kraft
Shanaz Langson
Kate Levering-Jahangiri
Jim Mazzo
William F. Meehan
Ethan F. Morgan
Rick Muth
Walter Parsadayan
Mark C. Perry
Maria Rigatti
Holly Breaux Schwartz
Elizabeth Segerstrom
Ginger Siedschlag
Connie Spenuzza
John E. Stratman Jr.
Samuel Tang
Kelly Thomson
Laura Vanderhook
Gaddi H. Vasquez
Jaynine Warner
Jane Fujishige Yada
Henry T. Segerstrom,* Founding Chairman
Directors Emeritus
Anthony A. Allen
Lawrence M. Higby
Pat L. Poss*
Timothy L. Strader
David H. Troob
Carol L. Wilken*
* in memoriam
Resident Companies
Arthur Ong, Chairman, Pacific Symphony
Elaine Neuss, Chair & CEO, Philharmonic Society
Julie Virjee, Chair, Pacific Chorale
Arts Supporters
Vanessa Moore, Chair, The Guilds of the Center
Ann Moorhead, President, Angels of the Arts
Maurice Murray, Chair, Arts & Business Leadership Council
Gail Daniels, President, The Center Stars
Kate Levering-Jahangiri, President, Ave. to the Arts
Cindy Ramirez, Chair, The Center Docents
Photo: Owen Scarlett Photo
Calendar of events
June 2026
Tuesday Night Dance:
Broadway
June 2, 9, 16
The Sound of Music
June 2–14
Windborne’s Music of Journey
June 5–6
Rossini, Boccherini, Mascagni & Rachmaninoff
June 11–13
Summer Sounds: Let Love Lead
June 12
July 2026
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
July 11–25
Movie Mondays: The Parent Trap
July 6
Tuesday Night Dance: Bollywood
July 7, 14
Summer Sounds: Mevina
July 10
Movie Mondays: Men in Black
July 13
Rachmaninoff’s
Symphony No. 2
June 14
Eternity
June 18–20
South Side Symphony Anime Juke Jam
June 19
Summer Sounds: Extra Ancestral
June 19
Tuesday Night Dance: Line Dance
June 23, 30
Summer Sounds: Velvet Soul D’Angelo Tribute
June 26
Summer Sounds: Undecided Future
July 17
Movie Mondays: How to Train Your Dragon
July 20
Tuesday Night Dance: Hula
July 21, 28
Summer Sounds: Manny Cepeda
July 24
Movie Mondays: The Lizzie McGuire Movie
July 27
Legend: Segerstrom Hall
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
Samueli Theater
Judy Morr Theater
Julianne and George Argyros Plaza
Artists, events and dates subject to change; visit scfta.org for up-to-date details and times.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Photo:
Evan Zimmerman
The Sound of Music— the real story
Ah, “Edelweiss,” that beloved traditional Austrian tune about a tiny white flower that grows in the mountains.
Or maybe not.
Most people have no idea that the song “Edelweiss” is not Austrian, and it’s certainly not an old, traditional tune. It was written specifically for the Broadway musical The Sound of Music by the show’s famous writers, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein.
“Edelweiss” was the last song Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote together; Hammerstein was already suffering from cancer and died of the illness nine months after The Sound of Music opened on Broadway.
In both the musical and the film (released five years later), Captain von Trapp sings “Edelweiss” when the children beg him to perform something for them. Their oldest sister reveals there was often music in the house before their mother died. At the end of the film, the family performs it at the Salzburg music festival (used as a cover to escape the country).
The song symbolizes the Captain’s loyalty to Austria in the face of the Nazi annexation of his country. It is also his personal “goodbye”
to his homeland before they hike over the mountains and out of the clutches of the enemy. Hammerstein included that into last lyric he wrote: “Edelweiss, edelweiss, Bless my homeland forever.”
In fact, the real von Trapps did not head over the mountains. That would have taken them into Nazi Germany, not neutral Switzerland. They simply went out the back gate of their home’s garden to the nearby train station (in broad daylight) to travel to Italy, ostensibly for a hiking vacation. From there they went to the United States for an already-planned singing tour of the country. They had a real tour contract if anyone asked.
Was postulant-turned-governess Maria Rainer as pretty and perky as she is portrayed in the Broadway musical (by Mary Martin) and the film (by Julie Andrews)? Sort of. She was 22 years old when she and the Captain married in 1927, nearly a decade before they went on their theatrical honeymoon in 1938.
And those adorable little children? The oldest child—in real life a boy—was born in 1911 and would have been in his late 20s at the time of the story.
All photos by Jeremy Daniel
The stage production includes evidence of the Nazi invasion more prevalently than is portrayed in the famous film. In fact, in the musical Baroness Schreder breaks off her engagement with the Captain because he refuses to appease the new regime. Even today, the sight of a Nazi flag hanging on a building can be disconcerting to an audience, even if it is just on a stage set.
Don’t worry, it’s not all reconstructed. Maria really was a postulant at Nonnburg Abbey and having a hard time fitting in. The Captain did ask for help from the nuns but only needed someone for a few months to teach one of his daughters who had been ill and fallen behind on her studies.
This current production of the musical, directed by three-time Tony® winner Jack O’Brien, is fresh and vibrant and getting rave reviews across the country.
“With a rich 65-year history on stage … bringing a fresh perspective [to the musical] can be a challenge, although … this classic doesn’t need much reinventing,” says theatermania.com. “The production strikes an excellent balance— introducing subtle, thoughtful updates while
preserving the enduring charm that has captivated audiences for generations.” The Boston Review points out its highlights: “Topnotch vocals, charming children, and a balance of heartwarming music.”
“Even if it is a story that you know and love well, in the moment of live performance, something unexpected can be revealed to us,” says nextmag.ca. “The national tour has preserved the story—warts and all—for us to appreciate....” The Wall Street Journal says “Splendid entertainment—you realize what masters Rodgers and Hammerstein were!”
Featuring beloved songs like “Do-Re-Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” and “My Favorite Things,” The Sound of Music will captivate audiences with its universal themes of love, resilience and the power of music.
“As a lifelong fan, the uplifting songs, tender heart, and joyful spirit are just ‘a few of my favorite things,’” says a critic for theatermania.com. “This version of The Sound of Music conveyed it all perfectly.”
Segerstrom Hall June 2–14
Chamber music redefined
This chamber music season marks the 200th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s death (March 26, 1827), and we are exploring Beethoven from multiple perspectives. Most of our concerts will have a central work by Beethoven surrounded by pieces by a variety of composers that help illuminate a particular theme. We hope people will hear this chamber music season like a book of related short stories: each one connected to the others but also stands alone. Together we’ll create a musical experience you don’t want to miss.
We welcome the Attacca Quartet to open the season. The word “attacca” is a musical direction for players to move from one movement to the next without pause. That could describe the ensemble itself. Founded at Juilliard in 2003, they have already won a GRAMMY® Award and top prizes at international chamber music competitions. Still, the members find it amusing that after more than 20 years as a group, they are still referred to as an “emerging” quartet. “We’ve been emerging longer than anyone,” laughs first violinist and founding member Amy Schroeder.
Perhaps the confusion is due to the group’s eclectic, try-anything attitude. The Nation writes that the ensemble “lives in the present aesthetically without rejecting the virtues of the musical past.” They seem to glide from the 18th century through to the 21st century repertoire without breaking a string. They are a perfect quartet for our modern times, “a surprisingly powerful experience,” says the Strad magazine.
Twelve years ago they made a recording of the complete cycle of Haydn’s string quartets, followed by a complete recording of John Adams’ complete quartets. Their program for the Center will include Beethoven, Ravel, and Caroline Shaw, among others.
Photo by David Goddard
Ignore the odd name: Brooklyn Rider has performed in Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, as well as SXSW festival in Austin and the Malmö Festival in Sweden. Brooklyn Rider is a string quartet that doesn’t stay in its own lane. In addition to classical pieces by recognized composers, the Riders also include unusual and contemporary repertoire. It’s more than just a classical music concert.
Over the years the group has refined its views, remained open to new ideas and continues to explore the possibilities of the quartet set up. The key is a love of different types of music. The New York Times says that’s not an overstatement.
“Some of Brooklyn Rider’s repertoire sounds like folk music, while others have the exhilarating intensity of rock. Then comes a contemporary piece or a standard by Beethoven or Schubert.” Much of this includes working with musicians that are outside the classical music world, including banjo star Béla Fleck and jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman.
On their Center Chamber Music Series program the works range from Beethoven and Haydn to Angelica Negron and a Bob Dylan song arranged by quartet violinist Colin Jacobson. It’s one of those things that shouldn’t sound right but does.
The Brentano Quartet is known for its unique sensibility, probing interpretive style and original programming. It has established itself as one of the world’s preeminent ensembles. With a career spanning over three decades, the Brentano has appeared throughout the world to popular and critical acclaim.
“The Brentanos have an unfailing unity of intent across a broad range of compositions,” says musicwebinternational.com. “While style and tone were thoughtfully tailored to each piece, the four musicians maintained a remarkably high degree of musical cohesion.”
“Mozart’s quirky String Quartet in E flat major K428 was brought to life, playing with tremendous love, wit and charm” says thestrad.com.
Of a Ravel piece, “There’s little else to say except to express tremendous praise,” says thestrad.com. “The Brentano played with pristine intonation and just the right amount of intensity, and their playing … was absolutely beautiful.”
continued on page 12
Photo by Marco Giannavola
Photo by Christian Steiner
continued from page 11
In the literal “heart” of the season is the Takács Quartet, featuring an all-Beethoven program. The ensemble is celebrating its 50th birthday with a full calendar of international engagements. “You will not hear better string quartet playing anywhere in the world today,” says BBC Music magazine. The ensemble has proudly been appointed the Official Chamber Ensemble of Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
The group began with four musicians at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, who immigrated in 1986 and joined the music department at University of Colorado, Boulder. Today, only one original member remains, but the quartet retains the spirit of the original. “The Takács is the essential quartet of our time,” says The New York Times. For Harumi Rhodes, the second violin, it was the ensemble’s risk taking that made her want to be a part of it. On hearing the quartet for the first time, “all the pieces had this feeling of exploration and adventure, and there was this overall feeling of mischief, like children having fun together,” she told The New York Times. (She also found love, and married Edward Dusinberre, the first violin.)
They are associate artists at London’s prestigious Wigmore Hall and were the first string quartet to be awarded its Wigmore Hall Medal, in addition to the many other string competitions all over Europe and awards for their recordings.
The three quartets they’ve chosen will trace the evolution of Beethoven from a brash, optimistic revolutionary to his anguished maturity, to—finally—acceptance, transcendence and grace.
In March, the Arcis Saxophone Quartet makes its Center debut. Yes, you read that right: a classical ensemble that is comprised of four sax musicians. Arcis Saxophone Quartet brings a fresh identity to the classical saxophone. Their bold arrangements and charismatic performances have made them standout innovators on the global chamber music scene. “Their musicianship is exemplary, their intonation uncanny, their repertoire delightfully eclectic,” says the Berkshire Edge. “A rapt audience got all the benefit.”
This group takes full advantage of social media. They invite the audience to photograph and video of their performance, and as they post, the word about the concert is going out all over the world. Audiences have become part of their business model and are happy to talk about this unusual ensemble.
Arcis Saxophone Quartet is only 15 years old, but it has swept the board of prizes in music competitions and received numerous scholarships from organizations in their home country of Germany.
A recent concert had quite a varied program. “Their music is challenging at times, but that is not how members of Saturday’s audience will remember it,” says the Berkshire Edge. “All they will remember is having fun.” For the Arcis Quartet, music is an endless playground, and they are as diverse as no other group. Only one thing remains a constant: Their distinctive sound.
They are bringing The Nightclub Chronicles program to the Center. It’s a little bit different than usual chamber concerts. With creative arrangements, powerful interpretations and a touch of eccentricity, this will be a delightful event. Works will range from Beethoven and Piazzolla to Mark Mellits and Shuteen Erdenbaatar.
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Photo by Ian Malkin
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When was the last time you experienced a classical quintet that included a bassoon? Never? Then you will want to get a ticket now for Imani Winds. The ensemble comprises a flute, French horn, oboe, clarinet, and the aforementioned bassoon. No strings attached.
The GRAMMY Award-winning group was founded in 1997 with the aim of highlighting underrepresented composers and musicians. It is also known for its adventurous and diverse programming. Their repertoire bridges the traditional and the contemporary, featuring core chamber works, reimagined arrangements and commissioned works. Some recent works include a double quintet by jazz musician Arturo Sandoval featuring Boston Brass; and a celebrated arrangement of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring.
“Imani is all about stepping outside the boundaries,” says the group’s clarinetist, Mark Dover. “We love classical music and play it all the time, but we also love exploring common threads between different genres that you wouldn’t have thought existed and melding them together in beautiful ways.” The program for their Center engagement will range from Mendelssohn and Stravinsky to Charlie Parker and Paquito D’Rivera.
The Catalyst Quartet emerged from the Sphinx Organization, which is aimed at making classical music more diverse. It fosters and encourages Black and Latino musicians who may not fit in a traditional compartment. “With pioneering recordings of string quartets by forgotten and neglected Black composers, the quartet has elevated repertoire that others overlooked,” says seenandheard-international.com.
The quartet’s Carnegie Hall debut was lauded by The New York Times as “energetic and finely burnished … playing with earthly vigor.”
The group has participated in residencies at major arts institutions, including the LiveArts series at the Metropolitan Museum. They performed with jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant at Jazz at Lincoln Center; the recording of that concert won a GRAMMY Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
This is an eclectic season, with some familiar ensembles and some that will redefine how classical music sounds. We know the adventurous spirit of our audiences will appreciate exploring new sounds as well as old favorites. Every performance is sure to be special.
Photo by Titilayo Ayangade
Icons of the Center
Many artists and musical performers are considered icons and are lauded for their talent and success. At the Center we also have icons, those who have given so much of themselves for this institution. Four of those are being honored here this month: Dee and Larry Higby and Susan and Tim Strader.
The Judy Morr Icon Award honors pillars of our community who have long supported the performing arts and the growth of the Center itself. Having opened in 1986, the Center is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and the Higbys and the Straders have been longtime supporters.
Larry Higby joined the board of directors in 1990 and has served as Chairman of the Board. Last year he was appointed director emeritus.
Dee Higby is a longtime member of the Angels of the Arts support group and served a term as its president. She also chaired the Center’s 10th anniversary celebration in 1996 and chaired Candlelight Concert in 2011 and 2013.
Tim Strader is our longest-tenured board member, having joined in 1979 before the Center was opened. He served as president of the board in 1985, and stayed on as board member. It is rather appropriate that he is being awarded a Judy Morr Icon Award, since it was Tim who was responsible for recruiting Judy Morr herself as the Center’s original programming director and later becoming the executive vice president of programming, before her retirement in 2024.
Susan Strader is a founding member of the Angels, having joined in 1984 before the Center opened. She also served as president of the Angels. Susan and Dee are beloved members of the Angels and serve as important ambassadors for the Center.
The Higbys and Straders will be celebrated with an award ceremony and party on the
Julianne and George Argyros Plaza on May 14. This fundraising event will help support the Center’s nonprofit artistic, educational, and community initiatives that are important to them.
Judy Morr arrived in 1985, while construction of the Center was finishing. Her leadership helped bring world-class artists to Orange County and make the Center a destination for the best of the performing arts.
Morr’s passion was dance, and she forged a strong relationship with American Ballet Theatre (ABT), one which continues today.
In 2015 Judy helped open the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School, aimed at training future generations of dancers. Graduates have gone on to prestigious ballet training programs and professional dance companies. Judy’s tenure put the Center on the map, and making it one of the leading performing arts centers in the world.
In 2024 Judy received the inaugural Icon Award in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to the Center, the community and the arts.
From top: Dee and Larry Higby
Susan and Tim Strader
A NOTE FROM JOHN ALEXANDER
It is a profound joy to welcome you to this evening of music.
When I began shaping this program, I wanted to create more than a sequence of beautiful works. I wanted to offer a musical journey that reflects something I have believed all my life: that music is one of the great sustaining forces in our humanity. It gives voice to joy, grief, wonder, praise, longing, and hope. It helps us endure life’s trials, and it reminds us, even in difficult times, of beauty’s enduring presence.
This evening’s program was chosen with that idea at its center. The works you will hear speak in different languages, styles, and emotional colors, yet they are united by a common thread: the power of music to illuminate our lives. Tonight’s music travels a journey through serenity and contemplation, radiance and exultation, struggle and searching, and finally, renewal. Together, I hope these works offer not only an artistic experience, but also a reflection on what music can mean to us as listeners, as communities, and as human beings.
Over the course of my years on the podium, I have always tried to build programs with care for shape, contrast, and emotional truth — to create an experience that unfolds with purpose and speaks as a whole. For this concert, my hope is that you will feel carried by that arc, and that when you leave the hall, you may find yourself reminded of how deeply music belongs in our lives.
To return to conduct Pacific Chorale and Pacific Symphony for this Grand Encore is deeply meaningful to me. I have had the extraordinary privilege of standing before these remarkable artists for many years, and I carry deep admiration and affection for the musicians, staff, and leadership who continue to serve this art form with such excellence. I am especially grateful to Artistic Director Robert Istad for inviting me back for this occasion, and for the artistry, integrity, and imagination with which he has led Pacific Chorale into its next chapter.
And to you, our audience: thank you. Thank you for your presence, your loyalty, your curiosity, and your belief in the importance of live music. Over many decades, your support has meant more to me than I can fully express. One of the greatest gifts a conductor can receive is the trust of an audience, and I have always been grateful for yours.
It has been one of the great honors of my life to make music for and with this community. My wish for you tonight is simple: that you leave renewed, uplifted, and reminded that music still has the power to guide us toward compassion, courage, peace, and joy.
With my enduring gratitude, John Alexander artistic director laureate
2025-26 SEASON
SATURDAY
MAY 23, 2026
7:00PM
Platinum Season Sponsor
Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons
RENÉE AND HENRY SEGERSTROM CONCERT HALL
A SERENADE TO MUSIC
Pacific Chorale
John Alexander, artistic director laureate with Pacific Symphony
Alexander Shelley, music director designate
Elissa Johnston, soprano
Martha Carter, lighting design
RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872–1958)
Serenade to Music (1938)
Ms. Johnston
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756–1791)
Regina Coeli in C, K.276 (1779)
Chelsea Chaves, soprano
I-Chin Betty Feinblatt, mezzo-soprano
Jason Francisco, tenor
Michael Fagerstedt, bass
Christoph Bull, organ
Laudate Dominum from Vesperae solennes de confessore, K.339 (1780)
Ms. Johnston • Christoph Bull, organ
ANTON BRUCKNER (1824–1896)
Ave Maria, K.276 (1861)
Psalm 150, WAB 38 (1892)
Ms. Johnston
INTERMISSION
JOHANNES BRAHMS (1833–1897)
Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny), Op. 54 (1868–1871)
I. Adagio: Ihr wandelt droben im Licht
II. Allegro: Doch uns ist gegeben
III. Adagio
LILI BOULANGER (1893–1918)
Soir sur la plaine (Evening on the Plain) (1913)
Ms. Johnston
Jane Hyun-Jung Shim, mezzo-soprano
Daniel Coy Babcock, tenor
FRANK TICHELI (b. 1958)
There Will Be Stars from Constellation (Three Poems of Sara Teasdale) (2009)
JAKE HEGGIE (b. 1961)
Seeking Higher Ground: Bruce Springsteen Rocks New Orleans, April 30, 2006 (2006)
Serenade to Music | Vaughan Williams
Text by William Shakespeare (1564–1616), from The Merchant of Venice, Act V, Scene 1 (c. 1596–1597)
How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! Here will we sit and let the sounds of music Creep in our ears: soft stillness and the night Become the touches of sweet harmony. Look how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold: There’s not the smallest orb that thou behold’st But in his motion like an angel sings, Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubins; Such harmony is in immortal souls; But whilst this muddy vesture of decay Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it. Come, ho! and wake Diana with a hymn! With sweetest touches pierce your mistress’ ear, And draw her home with music.
I am never merry when I hear sweet music. The reason is, your spirits are attentive –The man that hath no music in himself, Nor is not mov’d with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils; The motions of his spirit are dull as night And his affections dark as Erebus: Let no such man be trusted. Music! hark! It is your music of the house. Methinks it sounds much sweeter than by day. Silence bestows that virtue on it How many things by season season’d are To their right praise and true perfection! Peace, ho! the moon sleeps with Endymion And would not be awak’d. Soft stillness and the night Become the touches of sweet harmony.
Regina Coeli | Mozart
Regina cæli, lætare, alleluia; Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia, Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia: Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.
Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia. For he whom you were worthy to bear, alleluia, Has risen as he said, alleluia. Pray for us to God, alleluia.
Laudate Dominum | Mozart
Laudate Dominum, omnes gentes; laudate eum, omnes populi.
Quoniam confirmata est super nos misericordia ejus, et veritas Domini manet in aeternum.
Ave Maria | Bruckner
Ave Maria, gratia plena: Dominus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
Psalm 150 | Bruckner
Halleluja!
Lobet Gott in seinem Heiligtum, lobet ihn in der Feste seiner Macht!
Lobet ihn für seine Taten, lobet ihn in seiner großen Herrlichkeit!
Lobet ihn mit Posaunen, lobet ihn mit Psalter und Harfen!
Lobet ihn mit Pauken und Reigen, lobet ihn mit Saiten und Pfeifen!
Lobet ihn mit hellen Zimbeln, lobet ihn mit klingenden Zimbeln!
Alles, was Odem hat, lobe den Herrn! Halleluja!
O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
For his loving kindness has been bestowed upon us: and the truth of the Lord endures for ever.
Hail, Mary, full of grace: the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Alleluia!
Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament!
Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Alleluia!
Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny) | Brahms
Text (1799) by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770-1843)
Ihr wandelt droben im Licht
Auf weichem Boden selige Genien!
Glänzende Götterlüfte
Rühren Euch leicht,
Wie die Finger der Künstlerin
Heilige Saiten.
Schicksallos, wie der Schlafende Säugling, atmen die Himmlischen; Keusch bewahrt,
In bescheidener Knospe
Blühet ewig
Ihnen der Geist,
Und die seligen Augen
Blicken in stiller
Ewiger Klarheit.
Doch uns ist gegeben
Auf keiner Stätte zu ruh’n; Es schwinden, es fallen
Die leidenden Menschen
Blindlings von einer Stunde zur andern,
Wie Wasser von Klippe
Zu Klippe geworfen
Jahrlang ins Ungewisse hinab.
You walk above in the light on soft ground, blessed spirits! Glistening, divine breezes touch you lightly, just as the fingers of the fair artist play the sacred harp-strings.
Free from fate, like the sleeping infant, celestial spirits breathe; chastely protected, in its modest bud, their spirit, blooms forever, and their blessed eyes gaze in calm, eternal clarity.
Yet we are given no place to rest; we suffering humans vanish and fall blindly from one hour to the next, like water flung from cliff to cliff endlessly down into the unknown.
Learn more about Pacific Chorale’s history with Lili Boulanger’s Soir sur la plaine!
Soir sur la plaine (Evening on the plain) | Boulanger
Text by Albert Samain (1858–1900), from Le chariot d’or (The Golden Chariot)
Vers l’occident, là-bas, le ciel est tout en or; Le long des prés déserts où le sentier dévale
La pénétrante odeur des foins coupés s’exhale, Et c’est l’heure émouvante où la terre s‘endort.
La faux des moissonneurs a passé sur les terres,
Et le repos succède aux travaux des longs jours; Parfois une charrue, oubliée aux labours, Sort, comme un bras levé, des sillons solitaires.
La nuit à l’orient verse sa cendre fine;
Seule au couchant s’attarde une barre de feu; Et dans l’obscurité qui s’accroît peu à peu
La blancheur de la route à peine se devine.
Puis tout sombre et s’enfonce en la grande unité.
Le ciel enténébré rejoint la plaine immense...
Écoute ! ... Un grand soupir traverse le silence...
Et voici que le coeur du jour s’est arrêté !
Far away towards the west, the sky is golden! Along the deserted fields where the path runs The penetrating smell of newly-cut hay rises up And it is the poignant hour when the Earth begins to slumber.
The harvesters’ scythe has passed over the land
And rest follows the long day’s work. Sometimes a plough, forgotten in a field, Extends like a raised arm from the solitary furrows.
In the east, night pours out her subtle ashes. A glowing bar of fire lingers only in the west. And in the gradually growing darkness
The whiteness of the road can barely be discerned.
Then all is dark and plunges into the vast unity.
The darkened sky again meets the immense plain...
Ah! Listen! A great sigh comes through the silence,
And lo, the day’s heart has stopped.
There Will Be Stars | Ticheli
Text by Sara Teasdale (1884–1933), from Dark of the Moon (1926)
There will be stars over the place forever; Though the house we loved and the street we loved are lost, Ever y time the earth circles her orbit
On the night the autumn equinox is crossed,
Two stars we knew, poised on the peak of midnight Will reach their zenith; stillness will be deep; There will be stars over the place forever, There will be stars forever, while we sleep.
Seeking Higher Ground: Bruce Springsteen Rocks New
Orleans, April 30, 2006 | Heggie
Text by Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ (b. 1939) and Jake Heggie
Were you there when the ninth ward flooded?
Did you see the levee break?
Did you feel the wall of rushing water, climbing, rising up to the sky?
So did I, my brother. So did I, my sister. So did I.
Did you know the storm was comin’?
Did you hear the people cry as they drowned?
Did they ever stand a chance?
No money, no car, no hope of being found.
Wading through the water.
Seeking higher ground.
Where’s the buses? Where’s the Red Cross?
This here line leads to nowhere but hell.
Where’s the way out? Someone help me,
‘Cuz the water just keeps risin’ on up. Oh, help me please. Oh, tell me. Lead me.
I’m tryin’, but I can’t reach up any higher.
Don’t know where I’m bound.
Wading through the water, brother.
Wading through the water, sister. Seeking higher ground.
Did you know? Did you see? Did you hear?
Did you feel? Did you go? Were you seeking higher ground?
Bruce Springsteen starts singin’.
(He’s our Matthew 25.)
“I was hungry and you fed me.”
I’m so glad to be alive.
My city is in ruins.
Where’s the hope of being found?
Won’t you lift me up, lead me, and show me the way to higher ground.
We are climbing Jacob’s ladder…
The crowd hears Bruce’s singin’: “O Mary don’t you weep.” I can feel it comin’: a flood of anger and hope and relief. (We are.) We’re standin’. (We are.) We’re singin’. (We are.) The tears are flowin’ down. (We are.) That’s when I see it (We are.) rising around me:
(WE ARE) THE HIGHER GROUND.
Do you hear? A storm is comin’. Can you feel the levee breakin’ down? Will you join the sea of people standin’ together reaching up to the sky?
So will I, my brother. So will I, my sister. Wading through the water.
We are climbing higher, higher. (Will you stand with me here now? Will you show me the way now?)
Hold my hand now, stronger, tighter. (Will you sing with me clear now?
Will you use your voice now?)
Our voices united, we will be found. Then we’ll leave the water and I’ll take your hand and we’ll stand together and sing on the higher ground.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
VAUGHAN
WILLIAMS
composed the
By DR. GORDON PAINE
SERENADE
TO MUSIC on a commission from Sir Henry Wood (1869–1944), the most renowned British conductor of his time and the founder of the London “Proms” concerts, for an October 5, 1938 concert celebrating Wood’s fifty years on the podium. The orchestra opens with an eloquent sound picture of the night, after which the voice parts individually and in groups sing the words of Shakespeare’s meditation on beauty, music, and the night from The Merchant of Venice.
How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! Here will we sit, and let the sounds of music Creep in our ears: soft stillness and the night Become the touches of sweet harmony...
We learn that while music is a source of pleasure and joy, is it a moral necessity as well: “The man that hath no music in himself . . . is fit for treasons,” “dull as night” and “not to be trusted.” Though Vaughan Williams conceived the “Serenade” for sixteen soloists, he also sanctioned choral performance, the option employed this evening.
After a childhood and early adolescence touring the courts of Europe as a child-prodigy pianistcomposer, MOZART returned home to Salzburg. There he unhappily served as court violinist to the ruler, Prince-Archbishop Hieronymus Colloredo, until Colloredo tired of his complaints and absences and fired him in 1781. Though Mozart was miserable there, choral-music lovers have reason to be grateful: Nearly all his choral works came from the Salzburg years, before he reached the age of 25.
While Salzburg’s church rules required brevity in church music, excessive length was not an issue in composing the REGINA COELI (KV 276). Indeed, Mozart’s challenge in this celebratory piece for Eastertide was having a text of just fourteen words. This brevity gave Mozart room to play, to dance,
if you will, repeating and varying phrases and passing them delightfully back and forth between soloists and chorus.
His real opportunity for fun, however, was in the “allelujahs” that follow each phrase of the liturgical text. It is possible, though not certain, that he heard Handel’s Messiah in London at age 8 or 9, and he comes close to quoting the “Hallelujah” chorus in measures 78–79 and 133–134.
LAUDATE
DOMINUM, a setting of Psalm 116:1–2, is the penultimate movement in Mozart’s Vesperae solennes de Confessore, KV 339, from 1780. The brevity of the Psalm, just twenty-one words that command the reader to “praise the Lord,” gave Mozart the chance to write a tranquil contrast to the intensity of the earlier movements. His floating and elegant melody—perhaps his best-known of all—appears immediately in the orchestra, is then taken up by the soprano soloist, and makes its final appearance in the doxology.
The Roman Catholic AVE MARIA text is commonly set to music as a restrained and humble prayer to the Virgin Mary. The same adjectives apply to the character of the composer ANTON BRUCKNER (1824–1896), a pious and shy Catholic whose extraordinary works, particularly his symphonies, thrust him into the international limelight in middle age. In his thirties, Bruckner undertook formal study of eighteenth-century vocal part-writing. His Ave Maria of 1861, a brief a cappella piece he wrote for his own community chorus, was a product of that work. Conservative in terms of compositional technique, it is not so in its expression, with an eight-part choir, an enormous dynamic range, and two glorious climaxes within the first twenty-five measures.
PSALM 150, written 31 years later, as Bruckner worked on his final symphony, is another story entirely. It was commissioned as the musical
centerpiece for the opening of the International Music and Theatre Exposition on May 7, 1892, in Vienna. Bruckner responded with this showstopper setting for chorus, full orchestra, and soprano soloist. The Psalm calls for God to be praised with one instrument after another, a command that Bruckner’s orchestration fulfills lustily if not literally. Bruckner clearly relished the fact that the Psalm begins and ends with the word “Hallelujah” (Praise the Lord!), giving him an excuse to repeat the twenty-measure opening before his surprise ending: a fugue on the words “All that hath life and breath, praise ye the Lord!” If the “Hallelujahs” are a tip of the hat to Handel, perhaps the fugue was Bruckner’s homage to Bach.
Bruckner finished the work too late for the exposition but not too late for the Vienna Musikverein to program it into a regular-season concert on November 13. Performers often wonder why Bruckner used Martin Luther’s translation of the Psalm rather than the official Catholic (Allioli) version. Two possibilities are likely. First, his Psalm 150 was intended for a secular purpose rather than church use. Second and perhaps more important: Luther’s text is more beautiful.
Few if any of the texts that BRAHMS set to music affected him as deeply and immediately as the SCHICKSALSLIED, Op. 50. While visiting a distant friend in the summer of 1868, he stumbled across the novel-length poem Hyperion by the poet Hölderlin and was so affected by it that he returned home immediately to work on a musical response.
The first and second of the three strophes reveal a mortal protagonist’s envy of the eternal spirits, who are “free from fate” and glide undisturbed through their endless and unburdened existence. In the final strophe he contrasts their situation with the fate of mortals, whose lives are spent in turmoil, like the waters that crash from rock to rock and descend inexorably and “endlessly down into the unknown.”
Brahms’s confrontation with fate finds expression not only in the Schicksalslied, but in many other works as well, including A German Requiem, the Gesang der Parzen (Song of the Fates) and the Alto Rhapsody. All of these share not only their topic but a scoring for large orchestra—an opportunity for Brahms to use the full palette of expression available to a musician in his time.
In his poem SOIR SUR LA PLAINE (Evening on the plain), Albert Samain provides an extended evocation of nightfall, filled with colorful imagery. Lili Boulanger’s setting is filled with likewise colorful harmonies, impressionistic textures, and orchestration that bring the words to life in music.
LILI BOULANGER (1893–1918) was one of the brightest lights of French composition around World War One. In 1913, at the age of nineteen, and about to graduate from the Paris Conservatory, she decided to compete for the Conservatory’s prize in composition, the Prix de Rome. Lili had a family tradition to maintain: Her father had taken first place in 1835, and her elder sister, Nadia, second place in 1908.
The competitors were sequestered for three months and given the same text to set—in this case, verses 1, 4, 6, and 7 of Samain’s 1900 poem. When the doors were reopened the candidates presented their compositions for judgment. Lili was victorious. As was traditional, her manuscript and the performance parts were taken and locked away. Soir sur la plaine was known only through a badly defective edition until 1999, when Pacific Chorale singer C. Leonard Coduti gained access to the original materials and prepared the edition that you will hear this evening.
Of THERE WILL BE STARS (Constellation, No. 3), composer FRANK TICHELI writes, Constellation is my second choral setting of Sarah Teasdale’s poetry, the first being There Will Be Rest in 1999. Teasdale cultivated a poetic style that has its roots in the works of Sappho, Christina Rossetti, and Houseman—and I have long been drawn to her poems for their gentle lyricism and fragile tone. Haunted by depression in later years, Teasdale
took her own life at the age of 48. Many of her poems addressed the pain that tormented her spirit, but to the end she seemed to draw strength from the stars and their undying radiance. Each of the three poems I chose for this cycle thus reflects her recurring preoccupation with stellar imagery as a powerful symbol of eternal beauty and peace. Her words almost set themselves, inspiring natural, flowing melodic lines and vivid sound worlds. Feelings of longing and melancholy—never far from the surface—are poignantly balanced by feelings of hope and an underlying sense of awe and wonder.”
When Pacific Chorale asked JAKE HEGGIE in 2006 for a new composition to celebrate the opening of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, the subject of the work was left to the composer. For ideas, Heggie turned to his friend and collaborator Sister Helen Prejean, the author of the book Dead Man Walking and the libretto to Heggie’s opera of the same name. Prejean, a Louisiana native (as is John Alexander), had been immersed in the misery that was the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. She had also been present for the opening of the first post-storm New Orleans Jazz Festival, produced against all odds, which provided a nearly
miraculous “higher ground” to the spirit for a community that had lost everything. Together, Heggie and Prejean fashioned the text to SEEKING HIGHER GROUND, which premiered in this hall on October 22, 2006.
It then fell to Heggie to find a musical language for this extraordinary story. In the first part of the piece, survivors emerge slowly and fearfully from the muck, looking for help—“Where are the buses? Where’s the Red Cross” In Heggie’s setting, nothing is stable but insecurity itself above an ominous string ostinato. The meter then changes to 6/8 and the tempo gradually builds, as the words to Matthew 25 and the spiritual “We Are Climbin’ Jacob’s Ladder” raise the hope and provide the will to find “higher ground.”
Gordon Paine is a Professor of Music, Emeritus, and former Chair of the Department of Music at California State University, Fullerton. For 20 years Dr. Paine wrote concert program notes for John Alexander and Pacific Chorale. We are grateful to him for once again lending his insight and knowledge to this evening’s program.
HEAR JOHN ALEXANDER AND ROBERT ISTAD
DISCUSS THE WORKS ON THIS EVENING’S PROGRAM!
JOHN ALEXANDER
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR LAUREATE
JOHN ALEXANDER is one of America’s most respected choral conductors. His inspired leadership both on the podium and as an advocate for the advancement of the choral art has garnered national and international acclaim. Alexander is the Artistic Director Emeritus of Pacific Chorale where he served as Artistic Director and Conductor from 1974 to 2017. During his 43-year tenure, the organization grew to become one of the foremost symphonic choirs in the nation. Alexander’s long and distinguished conducting career has encompassed conducting performances of hundreds of choral/orchestral masterworks around the globe. Besides his extensive work on the podium with Pacific Symphony, he has also directed the National Philharmonic of China, the Shanghai Symphony, the National Philharmonic of Belgium, the Estonian National Philharmonic, the L’Orchestre Lamoureux of Paris, the Saint Petersburg (Russia) Chamber Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and the Pasadena Symphony. Alexander treasures his decades-long friendship and artistic partnership with Carl St.Clair, serving as his Chorus Master for performances and recordings with Pacific Symphony. He has also served
as Chorus Master for many of the world’s prominent orchestral conductors, including Gustavo Dudamel, EsaPekka Salonen, Pierre Boulez, Seiji Ozawa, Michael Tilson Thomas, Leonard Slatkin, Jorge Mester, Zubin Mehta, JoAnn Falletta, John Williams, and Keith Lockhart, in performances with orchestras such as Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, the London Symphony, the Mexico City Symphony, the Buenos Aires Philharmonic, the Ojai Festival Orchestra, the Boston Pops, and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Alexander holds the title of Professor Emeritus at California State University, Fullerton, where he was Director of Choral Studies from 1996 to 2006 after holding a similar position at California State University, Northridge from 1970-1996. During his distinguished teaching career, he served as mentor and teacher to hundreds of conductors and singers who now hold prominent positions of leadership across the United States. Alexander served for two decades as board member and former chair of the board of Chorus America, the national service organization for choruses in North America. In 2003, Chorus America honored him with the establishment of the “John Alexander Conducting Faculty Chair” for their national choral/ orchestral conducting workshops. After retiring from his academic career, Alexander has continued his involvement in the professional training of choral conductors. In 2017, he was a founding faculty member of Chorus America’s renowned ChoralOrchestral Conducting Academy and continues to serve as an Emeritus Faculty member of that program. John Alexander’s numerous tributes and awards include Chorus America’s Michael Korn Distinguished Service Award (2024) ACDA’s Howard Swan Award (2017), Lifetime Achievement Award from ACDA (2016), Chorus America’s Michael Korn Founders Award for Development of the Professional Choral Art (2008); Distinguished Faculty Member Award from California State University, Fullerton (2006); Arts Orange County’s Helena Modjeska Cultural Legacy Award (2003); Arts Orange County’s Outstanding Individual Artist Award (2000); Gershwin Award, from the County of Los Angeles in recognition of his cultural leadership in Los Angeles (1990); and the Distinguished Professor Award (1977) from California State University, Northridge.
ELISSA JOHNSTON
SOPRANO
Cited by the New York Times for her “especially lovely” singing, ELISSA JOHNSTON enjoys diving into repertoire ranging from Bach, Handel and Monteverdi to Messiaen, Carter and Chinary Ung. Elissa has appeared as featured soloist with orchestras including the L.A. Philharmonic, L.A. Chamber Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Albany Symphony. Recent highlights include Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem with Long Beach Symphony, Die Staat by Louis Andriessen with the L.A. Philharmonic, Canteloube’s Chants d’Auvergne with the National Symphony of Costa Rica, Poulenc’s Gloria at the Palau de la Musica in Barcelona and the world premiere and recording of James MacMillan’s Fiat Lux with Pacific Symphony. She made her Carnegie Hall debut with the Pacific Symphony in Philip Glass’ T he Passion of Ramakrishna, as part of Carnegie Hall’s celebration of Glass’ 80th birthday. With the L.A. Master Chorale, Elissa has appeared as soloist in Beethoven’s Mass in C, Stravinsky’s Les Noces, Bach’s St. John and St. Matthew Passions, and Reena Esmail’s This Love Between Us. She is a member of the ensemble in Peter Sellars’ production of Music to Accompany a Departure, which opened the 2023 Salzburg Festival. Elissa is delighted to have sung on over 100 film soundtracks, including recent releases Avatar: Fire and Ash, both Wicked and Wicked: For Good, Nope, Twisters, and Superman (2025).
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PACIFIC CHORALE SOLOISTS FEATURED THIS EVENING
ROBERT ISTAD
PHILLIP N. AND MARY A. LYONS
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR CHAIR
ROBERT ISTAD, a GRAMMY® Award-winning conductor who “fashions fluent and sumptuous readings” (Voice of OC) with his “phenomenal” artistry (Los Angeles Times), was appointed Pacific Chorale’s Artistic Director in 2017. Under his leadership, the chorus continues to expand its reputation for excellence for delivering fresh, thought-provoking interpretations of beloved masterworks, rarely performed gems and newly commissioned pieces. His artistic impact can be heard on two recent recordings featuring Pacific Chorale, including the 2022 Grammy Award-winning “Mahler’s Eighth Symphony” with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gustavo Dudamel on Deutsche Grammophon (2021), for which he prepared the chorus. It won Best Choral Performance and also garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Engineered Album, Classical. Additionally, Istad conducted the Pacific Chorale’s recording “All Things Common: The Music of Tarik O’Regan” released on Yarlung Records (2020). Istad has prepared choruses for such renowned conductors as Esa-Pekka Salonen, John Williams, John Mauceri, Keith Lockhart, Nicholas McGegan, Vasilly Sinaisky, Sir Andrew Davis, Bramwell Tovey, Carl St.Clair, Eugene Kohn, Giancarlo Guerrero, Marin Alsop, George Fenton, and Robert Moody. He regularly conducts and collaborates with Pacific Symphony, Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra, Sony Classical Records, Yarlung Records, Berkshire Choral International, and Long Beach Symphony Orchestra. An esteemed educator, Istad is Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies at California State University, Fullerton, where he was recognized as CSUF’s 2016 Outstanding Professor of the Year. He conducts the University Singers and manages a large graduate conducting program, in addition to teaching courses on conducting and performance practice. Istad, who is on the Executive Board of Directors of Chorus America and serves as Dean of Chorus America’s Conducting Academy, is in demand as guest conductor, lecturer, and clinician.
PACIFIC CHORALE
The GRAMMY® Award-winning 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 40 works, including numerous commissions, by such lauded composers as John Adams, Jake Heggie, James Hopkins, David Lang, Morten Lauridsen, 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, led by Artistic Director Robert Istad, enjoys a longstanding partnership with Pacific Symphony, with
which the choir made its highly anticipated Carnegie Hall debut in 2018. The chorus also regularly appears with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, with which it won the 2022 GRAMMY® Award for Best Choral Performance for its contribution to the live recording of “Mahler: Symphony No. 8, ‘Symphony of A Thousand,’” conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, featuring 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. In addition to receiving national accolades, Pacific Chorale has garnered tremendous international acclaim. In July 2023, the chorus completed its first international tour in seven years with appearances in Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom in collaboration with Bath Philharmonia, Free State Orchestra of Bavaria, and Bournemouth Symphony Chorus and Orchestra. Previous tours have taken the choir to 19 countries in Europe, South America, and Asia, including engagements 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 everyone, the organization has a discography of 14 self-produced recordings and an extensive collection of free digital offerings. Recently, Pacific Chorale’s one hour choral-theatrical film To the Hands was featured as an Official Selection at the Newport Beach Film Festival, San Pedro International Film Festival, and the Culver City Film Festival. Pacific Chorale also places 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 communitywide singing event at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. pacificchorale.org
KIBSAIM ESCÁRCEGA
RON RUDDEROW LEGACY CHAIR
KIBSAIM ESCÁRCEGA serves as Assistant Conductor for the GRAMMY® Award-winning Pacific Chorale. Born and raised in Southern California, he is an active presence in the choral community as a conductor, teacher, and singer. Escárcega holds degrees in Vocal Performance and Choral Conducting from the University of California, Irvine, and California State University, Fullerton. He studied voice under Dr. Darryl Taylor and Dubravka Zubovic, and conducting with Seth Houston, Stephen Tucker, Robert Istad, and Kimo Furumoto. At UC Irvine, Escárcega conducted the student-led BATS Choir, served as Assistant Conductor for the Chamber Singers and Concert Choir, and was Chorus Master for various UCI opera productions. During his graduate studies at CSUF, he held the position of Graduate Assistant Conductor for Titan Voices, Concert Choir, Opera Theatre, and University Singers, conducting numerous concerts and preparing choruses and instrumental ensembles for opera productions. Escárcega has also served as Chorus Master for Lyric Opera of Orange County, the region’s professional opera company, and has prepared choirs for distinguished international conductors in renowned venues, including the Segerstrom Concert Hall and the Hollywood Bowl. His work has extended to significant public events, such as preparing choirs for memorial services, underscoring the role of music in bringing communities together.
PACIFIC
CHORALE
Robert Istad, phillip n and mary a lyons artistic director chair
John Alexander, artistic director laureate
Kibsaim Escárcega, assistant conductor ron rudderow legacy chair
Aram Barsamian
Daniel Coy Babcock diction support
SOPRANO
Rebecca Hasquet section leader
Kristi Barnes
Ammy Beltran
Alexandria Burdick
Andria Nuñez Cabrera
Chelsea Chaves
Jessica Dalley rita major memorial chair
Sophia Do
Stephanie Garcia Cochran
Amy Glinskas
Jenna Hansen
Saousan Jarjour
Corinne Larsen Linza
Susan M. Lindley
Anne McClintic
Shannon A. Miller
Maria Cristina Navarro
Hien Nguyen
Mia Noriega Searight
Deborah Pasarow
Nicole Peppel
Sarah Schaffner-Pepe
Linda Wells Sholik
Sarah L. Sweerman
Sarah Thompson
Ruthanne Walker Rice
Anne Williams 20
Victoria Wu
ALTO
Jane Hyun-Jung Shim, section leader
Emily Border
Kathryn Cobb-Woll
Denean R. Dyson 15
Ivanna Evans
I-Chin Betty Feinblatt
Marilyn Forsstrom
Erin Girard
Kathleen Thomsen Gremillion 10
Sandy Grim
Allison Hieger
Meadow Jones
Stacey Y. Kikkawa
Kristen Kleinhans
Micaela Macaraeg
Makenna Malkin
Michele M. Mulidor 30
Carla Neeld
Pat Newton
Kathleen Preston 20
Bonnie Pridonoff
Elizabeth Provencio
Ashley Riopka
Laurel Sanders
Amelia Saunders
Lauren Shafer
Sarah Shaler
Stephanie Shepson
Abby Tyree
Marijke van Niekerk
TENOR
Nicholas Preston section leader roger w. johnson memorial chair
Jephte Acosta
Mike Andrews
Daniel Coy Babcock
Sheridan Ball
Chris Buttars
Alex Cardenas
Abraham Cervantes
Craig Davis 25
Michael Elson
Marius Evangelista
David Evered
Jason Francisco
Alan Garcia
Johnny Gonzales
Vincent Hans
Steven M. Hoffman
Craig S. Kistler
Jin Ming Liao
Christopher Lindley
Zachary Lindquist
Benjamin Lopez
David López Alemán
Gerald McMillan
Michael Morales
Marc Robles
Sammy Salvador ron gray legacy chair
Joshua Tan Tessler
Jeff Wang
W. Faulkner White
Eric Xu
BASS
Ryan Thomas Antal section leader ron gray legacy chair
Kyle Boshardy
Mac Bright
Michael Fagerstedt
Karl Forsstrom
singers memorial chair
Larry Gates
Randall Gremillion
Peter Hahn
Brian Hamer
Mark Hamilton
Tom Henley
Jared Hughes
Jonathan Krauss
Dylan Leisure
Aaron Leppke
Elliot Z. Levine
Michael Lopez
Tom Mena
Martin Minnich
Emmanuel Miranda
Kenneth Moore
Ryan Morris
Zachary T. Nelson
Seth Peelle
Carl Pike 20
Ben Reyes
Ian Schipper
Joshua P. Stansfield
Sean TenBrook
PACIFIC SYMPHONY
PACIFIC SYMPHONY is the largest orchestra formed in the United States in the past 50 years and has earned national recognition for its adventurous programming, community engagement, and artistic growth. Founded in 1978, the Symphony has been led for 35 years by Carl St.Clair who is honored with the title of Music Director Laureate starting in the 2025-26 season. In 2024, Alexander Shelley was named Artistic and Music Director Designate for the 2025–26 season and will begin his full-time tenure in the 2026–27 season, marking a bold new chapter in the Symphony’s artistic evolution. With a purpose to lift the human spirit through the power of music, the Symphony is a pillar of the cultural landscape of Southern California, enriching lives and bringing communities together through creative and diverse programming. As the resident orchestra of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom
Concert Hall, the Symphony presents more than 100 concerts and events each year alongside a rich array of education and community engagement programs, reaching more than 300,000 residents of all ages. Pacific Symphony features an expansive range of programming through the Classical Series, the beloved Pops Series led by Principal Pops Conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez, SummerFest at the Great Park outdoor venue in Irvine, and engaging Family Musical Mornings concerts for young children and their families. In its 47-year history, Pacific Symphony has gained national and international recognition, with recent highlights including a 2018 Carnegie Hall debut in celebration of composer Philip Glass; a five-city tour of China; and a PBS Great Performances broadcast of Peter Boyer’s “Ellis Island: The Dream of America.” Pacific Symphony’s education and community engagement programs have been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts, expanding access to orchestral music and fostering a lifelong connection to the arts. These include the Frieda Belinfante Class Act program, which enhances music education in elementary schools; arts-X-press, a summer arts program for middle school students; and Heartstrings, which brings free access to music to community members by partnering with local schools, nonprofits and social service agencies. Pacific Symphony also nurtures the next generation of musicians through its renowned youth ensembles, including the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, Youth Wind Ensemble, Santiago Strings, and Youth Concert Band. These groups have toured internationally, earned prestigious awards, and provided young artists with opportunities to excel. By combining artistic excellence with a commitment to education and accessibility, Pacific Symphony continues to enrich lives, foster new talent, and create meaningful connections throughout Southern California. Its innovative programs ensure music remains a vital part of the community’s cultural fabric.
PACIFIC
SYMPHONY
Carl St.Clair, Music Director Laureate
william j gillespie music director chair
Alexander Shelley, Artistic & Music Director Designate phil and mary lyons artistic and music director chair
Pola Benke, Assistant Conductor
mary e. moore family assistant conductor chair
FIRST VIOLIN
Dennis Kim, concertmaster eleanor & michael gordon chair
Yoomin Seo, associate concertmaster
judy & wes whitmore chair
Jeanne Skrocki, assistant concertmaster
arlene & seymour grubman chair
Michael Siess
Christine Frank
Ayako Sugaya
Ann Shiau Tenney
Joanna Lee
Robert Schumitzky
Agnes Gottschewski
Dana Freeman
Julie Ahn
Paul Manaster
SECOND VIOLIN
Madalyn Parnas Möller*
elizabeth & john stahr chair
Jennise Hwang**
Yen Ping Lai
Yu-Tong Sharp
Ako Kojian
Linda Owen
Sooah Kim
MarlaJoy Weisshaar
Alice Miller-Wrate
Shelly Shi
* Principal
** Assistant Principal
+ On Leave
VIOLA
Meredith Crawford*
leona aronoff-sadacca chair
Victor de Almeida**
Carolyn Riley
John Acevedo
Hanbyul Jang
Julia Staudhammer
Joseph Wen-Xiang Zhang
Cheryl Gates
Phillip Triggs
CELLO
Warren Hagerty*
catherine & james emmi chair
Ben Lash**
Robert Vos
László Mezö
Ian McKinnell
M. Andrew Honea
Rudolph Stein
Emma Lee
BASS
Richard Cassarino*
Douglas Basye**
Christian Kollgaard
David Parmeter
Andrew Chilcote
David Black
Andrew Bumatay
FLUTE
Benjamin Smolen*
valerie and hans imhof chair
Sharon O’Connor
Cynthia Ellis
PICCOLO
Cynthia Ellis
OBOE
Jessica Pearlman Fields*
suzanne r. chonette chair
Ted Sugata
ENGLISH HORN
Lelie Resnick
CLARINET
Vacant* the hanson family foundation chair
David Chang
charlie and ling zhang chair
BASS CLARINET
Joshua Ranz
BASSOON
Rose Corrigan* ruth ann and john evans chair
Elliott Moreau
Andrew Klein
Allen Savedoff
CONTRABASSOON
Allen Savedoff
FRENCH HORN
Keith Popejoy*
Adedeji Ogunfolu
Kaylet Torrez**
Henry Bond
TRUMPET
Barry Perkins*
susie and steve perry chair
Tony Ellis
TROMBONE
Hiram Rodriguez*
David Stetson
PERCUSSION
Robert A. Slack*
HARP
Michelle Temple* the sungaila family chair
The musicians of Pacific Symphony are members of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 7.
TO THE HANDS
A VISUAL ALBUM BY PACIFIC CHORALE
For Pacific Chorale, there has been no project quite like To the Hands. It is both a concert and a film, but fundamentally it is a deeply human artistic exploration of homelessness and displacement
Inspired by Caroline Shaw’s modern reflection on Buxtehude’s 1680 cantata Ad Manus — Latin for “To the Hands” — the film asks a centuries-old question made urgent again:
How do we care for the
wounds
of the world?
At the heart of To the Hands are two simple, searching questions:
Would you harbor me? Would I harbor you?
Through layers of music and text, choreography, lighting and visual design, and live choral performance, To the Hands becomes both mirror and refuge. Recorded live at Samueli Theater, the film captures the raw, intensely emotional power of Pacific Chorale’s artists and creative team in a one-of-a-kind visual album.
As the film festival circuit winds down, we look forward to sharing To the Hands with wider audiences this year through its Fall 2026 public release.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
To the Hands has now been recognized by 13 festivals, including:
Pacific Chorale extends its heartfelt gratitude to DAVID AND DARRELLYN MELILLI for serving as Producing Sponsor of the film’s public release. Their generous support will help bring this powerful project beyond the concert hall and into homes, classrooms, and communities around the world.
Orff’s Carmina Burana Oct 17, 2026
Begining the season with Orff’s masterpiece in a new chamber orchestration that heightens its raw, percussive energy, alongside Tarik O’Regan’s powerful Critical Mass, shaped by texts that move from anger and forgiveness to light, belief, and peace. A world premiere by GRAMMY Award-winning composer Starr Parodi adds a spark of discovery to this opening night.
Tis the Season!
Dec 20, 21 & 23, 2026
THIRD DATE ADDED!
The concert hall comes to life with holiday magic when Pacific Chorale’s annual extravaganza takes center stage! A cherished Orange County tradition, “Tis the Season!” offers a sparkling variety of seasonal classics and whimsical surprises to create a festive outing for the whole family.
Bach’s Mass in B Minor
May 15, 2027
A masterpiece that has captivated listeners for centuries, Bach’s Mass in B Minor unfolds with breathtaking grandeur and intimate beauty, revealing music of extraordinary spiritual resonance. Under Robert Istad’s direction, Pacific Chorale and Bach Collegium San Diego deliver a rare performance that belongs on every music lover’s must-hear list.
PACIFIC CHORALE ACADEMY is a unique after-school choir program which combines music education and community building, offered free to elementary school students at selected partner sites. Resident teaching artists lead weekly rehearsals which focus on persistence, teamwork, and responsibility along with musical skills. Our Academy program received a national award from Chorus America for its impact in neighborhoods that have limited access to arts enrichment opportunities.
GET TO KNOW PACIFIC CHORALE’S EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Education is a central part of Pacific Chorale's mission. Each year, hundreds of vocalists of all ages participate in our programs, which are designed to enrich the community and promote a love of singing.
INTRO TO THE ARTS provides free concert tickets for students who could not otherwise attend, in partnership with schools and social service organizations. This access is made possible entirely through the generosity of our donors, whose support helps ensure that cost is never a barrier to experiencing the power of live choral music.
Pacific Chorale Choral Camp Class of 2025
18th ANNUAL CHORAL FESTIVAL
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Costa Mesa
FESTIVAL CHOIR PARTICIPANTS
COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE
AUGUST 16, 2026 AT 5PM FREE EVENT!
Robert Istad CONDUCTOR
Pacific Chorale’s Festival Chorus
Maurice Duruflé: Requiem
This festival joins hundreds of community members with the voices of the GRAMMY ® Award-winning Pacific Chorale!
AUGUST 14-16, 2026
Experience one of the country’s foremost music venues at no cost. Optional pay-what-you-can support keeps the Festival thriving. Festival choir participation registration opens May 1st. Concert tickets available July 6th
“John Alexander’s artistry is not simply part of Pacific Chorale’s history—it stands at the very core of the organization’s identity. His vision, generosity, and unwavering commitment to excellence shaped this ensemble in enduring ways. For me, this moment is deeply personal. John has been my teacher, my mentor, and one of my dearest friends. Naming him Artistic Director Laureate is both joyful and inevitable—a fitting tribute to a legacy that will continue to inspire us for generations to come.”
- ROBERT ISTAD ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
CELEBRATING
JOHN ALEXANDER
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR LAUREATE
For nearly six decades, John’s name has been inseparable from Pacific Chorale’s story.
His artistry helped shape the Chorale’s sound, deepen its relationship with Pacific Symphony, and establish the organization as one of the region’s defining voices in choral music. Through his leadership, Pacific Chorale became known not only for musical excellence, but for performances of depth, humanity, and emotional resonance.
The title Artistic Director Laureate honors that enduring influence. It is a tribute to John’s decades of vision, mentorship, and devotion to the choral art form, and to the profound role he continues to hold in the life of this organization. His legacy lives in the singers he inspired, the audiences he moved, the repertoire he championed, and the artistic standards that continue to guide Pacific Chorale today.
As Pacific Chorale looks toward the future, we do so with deep gratitude for the foundation John helped build. This recognition honors more than a remarkable career; it celebrates a relationship that continues to resonate through every voice, every performance, and every person changed by the music he helped bring to life.
Pacific Chorale proudly recognizes John Alexander with the title of Artistic Director Laureate , celebrating his extraordinary artistic leadership and enduring influence on the Chorale’s history, identity, and sound. This title affirms John’s lasting place as a beloved artistic leader, mentor, and friend.
HONORING CHARLIE & LING ZHANG
RECIPIENTS OF PACIFIC CHORALE’S 2026
ARTS CHAMPION AWARD
Pacific Chorale is proud to honor Charlie and Ling Zhang with the 2026 Arts Champion Award in recognition of their extraordinary generosity, vision, and enduring commitment to the cultural life of Orange County.
Through their philanthropy, Charlie and Ling have helped shape the future of the arts in our region—not only by supporting performances, but by building the spaces, programs, and pathways that allow music and artistic education to thrive. Their founding of OC Music & Dance created a place where young people pursue highquality training in the arts regardless of their family’s ability to pay. Their support has also extended to Pacific Chorale, Pacific Symphony, Bowers Museum, the Nixon Foundation, higher education, and many other organizations that enrich our shared community.
What makes Charlie and Ling’s philanthropy so meaningful is its deeply personal connection to the arts. Music has been woven through Charlie’s life from his earliest years, and he and Ling have carried that love forward by opening doors for others. Their giving reflects a belief that the arts are not a luxury, but a vital force for education, connection, inspiration, and hope.
Pacific Chorale is especially grateful for their belief in the power of choral music and their dedication to strengthening the artistic fabric of Orange County. As supporters, civic leaders, and champions of access to the arts, Charlie and Ling Zhang embody the very spirit of this award.
NATALIE: Do you remember your first rehearsal with Pacific Chorale?
MARY: Oh yes. The first time we ever warmed up together as a group, I remember standing there as the voices rose all around me, and I suddenly realized I had tears in my eyes. I couldn’t really do anything except stand there for a few minutes. It was the best feeling in the world; it was magic for me. I loved that we came from all walks of life and came together to create this singular, beautiful thing. Great friendships are born there, and they still are. In many ways, the happiest times of my life were when I was singing in Pacific Chorale.
NATALIE: How did your friendship with John Alexander develop?
MARY: I met John when I auditioned for him in 1977, but our friendship grew substantially after I joined the Board of Directors in the early ‘80s. The thing I grew to understand about John was that the music was first and foremost everything to him. Not many people operate that way, but he always has. When it became clear that the Board needed to raise funds to operate at the standard of artistic excellence John had established, he and I declared ourselves a team. And it’s been that way ever since.
“The happiest times of my life were when I was singing in Pacific Chorale.” - MARY LYONS
MARY LYONS REFLECTS
ON PACIFIC CHORALE AND JOHN ALEXANDER’S TRANSFORMATIVE LEGACY
BY Natalie Oswald ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
NATALIE: Do you remember your first gift to Pacific Chorale?
MARY: I believe our first gift to Pacific Chorale was something to the tune of $1,000, which was a lot of money for us at the time! As time went on, we found ourselves in a position to give more generously, and in doing so, we witnessed an extraordinary transformation in what the choir was capable of under John’s leadership, and now Rob’s.
NATALIE: Many of our alumni and donors refer to Pacific Chorale as a family. What does that mean to you personally?
MARY: That means there is a place for everyone. Some people can make a major gift. Some people volunteer their time. Some make a modest but meaningful donation in honor of John or another music teacher that changed their life, or someone they loved who sang with the Chorale. That is what a family does. It creates a sense of belonging, and with that belonging comes a shared responsibility to give back in the ways we can. The legacy John helped create is ours to honor, preserve, and pass on to those who come next.
Want to join Mary in carrying Pacific Chorale’s legacy forward? Contact Natalie Oswald, Associate Director of Development: (714) 662-2345 x227 | noswald@pacificchorale.org
BE PART OF PACIFIC CHORALE’S NEXT CHAPTER
THE PC@60 SOCIETY
This is a visionary group of supporters making a three-year giving pledge at or above their current giving level of annual support to help launch Pacific Chorale into its milestone 60th Anniversary Season in 2027-28.
The minimum pledge to join the PC@60 Society is $500 at or above your current giving for three years.
For 58 years, Pacific Chorale has set the bar for choral performance in Orange County. Beyond the stage, our education and community programs empower children and adults alike to find their voices and create a lasting resonance across generations. As we approach our milestone 60th Season in 2027-28, we are not just celebrating what has been built. We are investing in what comes next: bold artistic programming that captures the essence of the human experience, expanded K-12 pathways that foster a love of choral music early in life, and new opportunities for audiences to discover Pacific Chorale and experience its artistry in fresh, unexpected contexts.
That future is powered by donors – nearly 50% of our revenue comes from charitable support. Help us shape the next chapter of Pacific Chorale by making a three-year commitment to the PC@60 Society. Members enjoy unique benefits, including:
•Curated Annual Report presentation with a private per formance by soloists from Pacific Chorale
•Invitations to exclusive events such as PostConcer t Receptions with featured composers, Season Announcement events, and intimate holiday season gatherings
•Special recognition in Concer t Programs as a PC@60 Society member
For questions or to make the pledge yourself, contact: Natalie Oswald
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT (714) 662-2345 x227 | noswald@pacificchorale.org
PC@60 SOCIETY
Mike Andrews ♪
Brian D. Bates, CPA
Art and Donna Carter
Steven and Sandra Chiang
C. Leonard Coduti
Michael and Cheryl Del Campo
Rhett M. Del Campo & Elena Madrigal Hall
Lucy Dunn ♪
Betty Ferrell
Loren and Birgitta Glassen ♪
Gary Good and Jacqueline Charnley
Michael and Janet Hards
Susan Hawk
Tom and Anne Henley ♪
Diana Hensley ♪
Robert Istad and David Navarro ♪
Barbara Kingsbury ♪
Nels and Andrea Klyver ♪
Jan Landstrom ♪
Randi Larsen
Chris and Susan Lindley ♪
John and Lori♪ Loftus
Phillip N. and Mary♪ A. Lyons
David and Darrellyn Melilli ♪
Richard Messenger ♪
John♪ and Debbie Middlebrooks
Kenneth and Carla ♪ Neeld
Alex Nelson
Craig and Pat Newton ♪
Marcía and Dennis O’Hern
Thomas A. and Bonnie ♪ J. Pridonoff
Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP
Karyn Rashoff
Ryan Ratcliff and Nancy McCoy ♪
Loraine Reed ♪
Craig and Kirsten Springer
Lauri Thrupp
Angela Tripoli and John Mooney
Charles and Ling Zhang
PACIFIC CHORALE DONORS
Pacific Chorale gratefully acknowledges the following donors for their generous contributions since February 2025. These contributions enable Pacific Chorale to continue serving the community with performances of the highest artistic quality, and providing exceptional educational programs designed to continue the tradition of choral artistry in Orange County.
GIFTS OF DISTINCTION
We gratefully acknowledge the following donors, whose total gifts exceed $1 million, for their exceptional generosity and commitment to the success of the nationally recognized Pacific Chorale.
William J. Gillespie * Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons ♪ Lenora Meister
♪
$100,000 AND ABOVE
Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons ♪
Lenora Meister ♪ and Salt-Away Products, Inc
George H.I. Reiss* ♪
$25,000 TO $99,999
Karl and Marilyn Forsstrom ♪
Hans and Valerie Imhof
John and Lori Loftus ♪
David and Darrellyn Melilli ♪
Marcía and Dennis O’Hern
$10,000 TO $24,999
Mary Ester Blakley ♪
Margaret Gates
Tom and Anne Henley ♪
Janice Johnson
Jan Landstrom ♪
Chris and Susan Lindley ♪
Haydee Mollura
Thomas A. and Bonnie J. Pridonoff ♪
Loraine Reed ♪
Charles and Ling Zhang
$5,000 TO $9,999
Mike Andrews ♪
Anonymous (1)
Brian D. Bates, CPA
David L. Bates
Judi Elterman ♪
Dr. Betty Ferrell
Kathryn Gibson ♪
Norm and Sandy Johnson
Kenneth and Carla Neeld ♪
Pat and Craig Newton ♪
Karen Zfaty
$2,500 TO $4,999
Armando Dubon, Jr.
Dr. Deborah Then and Prof. George Foster
Diana Hensley
Barbara Kingsbur y Stéphane Quinn
Kirsten and Craig Springer
Dr. Lauri D. Thrupp
Fram and Julie Virjee
Peter and Martha Wetzel ♪
$1,000 TO $2,499
Brien Amspoker and Ellen Breitman
Anonymous (1)
Steve and Jennifer Baker ♪
David and Kirsten Bartholomew
Margaret and Kenneth Blair
Donna and Art Carter
John and Marcia Cashion
Rhett M. Del Campo and Elena Madrigal Hall
Peter Foley
Rhona Weinberg Gewelber and Hali Lieb
James and Sharon Givens
Loren and Birgitta Glassen ♪
Gary Good and Jacqueline Charnley
Michael and Janet Hards
Robert Istad and David Istad Navarro ♪
Eileen Jeanette
Nels and Andrea Klyver ♪
Jonathan Krauss ♪
Randi W. Larsen ♪
Claudia Looney
Dr. Goran S. Matijasevic
Deb and Chris Matsumoto
John and Elaine McClintic
Dr. William C. and Lynn McMaster
Richard Messenger ♪
Drs. John Mooney and Angela Tripoli
Robert and Christie Narver
Alex Nelson
Mark J. Nielsen
David and Jane Peterson
Judith Posnikoff
Karyn Rashoff
Carol Smith
Diane Stovall
Amanda and Andrew Whiting
$500 TO $999
Mark E. Aldrich and Doug Deimeke ♪
Mikki Cichocki
C. Leonard Coduti ♪
Lucy Dunn ♪
Rosemary P. Fennell
William and Alison Gregg
Peter Hahn ♪
Maria Hall-Brown
Carol and William Hatton
Dr. James McGaugh ♪
Teresa Ward
Matthew and Terri Wedell
$100 TO $499
Dr. Kevork Abazajian and Dr. Charis Kubrin
Jay Aber
Dennis Aigner and Camille Bertolet
Frank and Karen Albers
Richard Alexander
Anonymous (2)
Joyce Anne Antal ♪
Douglas and Catherine Antone
Deborah and Jim Babcock
Aram Barsamian ♪
Carl and Regina Blankenhorn
Leonard and Susie Buchan
Dr. Jay and Kris Calvert
Mary A. Caputi
Joe and Barbara Chamberlain
Joseph and Julie Chien
Denise B. Chilcote
Ronald Clark
Terry and Phyllis Clark ♪
Phil and Karen Como
John and Denise Corcoran
Sandra Cupp
Stan Dendinger ♪
Charles and Darlette Dexter ♪
Robert and Elaine Elliott
Dr. David M. Emmes and Paula Tomei
Phil and Jan Enns ♪
Drs. Herb and Cheryl Fischer
Patricia Fogarty
John Forsyte and Michele Moe-Forsyte
Larr y Gates ♪
Nancy Gerhard ♪
Dr. James Grove
Edward Gutierrez
William D. and Bonnie Brittain Hall ♪
Ron and Susan Harvey
James and Patricia Hay
Catherine Henley-Erickson
Kassandra Hernandez
Ed and Mary Louise Hlavac
Wendy Isbell
Lynne and Mike Istad
Manuel Jimenez
Barbara Johnson
Steven Kaplan
Chris and Gail Kempf
LaDonna Kienitz, Esq.
Craig and Deborah Kistler ♪
James and Lidia Klingler
Drs. John and Patricia Lamb
Walter J. Lawson
Jin Ming Liao ♪
Lynn Lin
Laura Long
Amira Mansour
Christine Marx
Thomas McCarthy*
Douglas and Kimberly Nason ♪
Thomas Neeld
Tricia Nichols
Samuel Nordrum
Natalie Oswald
Dorothy A. Peralta
Christopher and Tina Peterson
Dr. Constance Phillips
Sandy Possehl
Donald Rabe
Nina Rahe
Daniel and Pat Salceda
Mary C. Schiendler
Justus and Elizabeth Schlichting
Jack and Katharine Schoellerman
Nancy E. Scott
Sherry L. Smith
Wendy Sobeski
Peter and Mary Tennyson
Janet Keulen Thorson
Gary and Marjie Toops
Christopher Tower and Rober t Celio
Tsong and Jenny Wang
Nancy Warzer-Brady
Joshua Wentlandt and Eleen Hsu-Wentlandt ♪
Wayne D. White
Susie Xie
Richard and Susan Zevnik
♪ Pacific Chorale Member or Alumni
* deceased
GOVERNMENT, CORPORATE & FOUNDATION SUPPORT
$25,000 AND ABOVE
The Capital Group
Colburn Foundation
The Renee Jeffrey O’Hern Foundation
Salt-Away Products, Inc.
$10,000 TO $24,999
Groover Charitable Arts Fund of the OC Community Foundation
Pacific Life Foundation
$5,000 TO $9,999
Lon V. Smith Foundation
Robert & Doreen Marshall Fund for Dramatic Ar ts and Classical Music
$1,000 TO $4,999
LPL Financial
Newpor t Beach Cultural Ar ts Commission
Parker Hannifin Corp.
Quinn & Dworakowski LLP
$100 TO $999
Farmers & Merchants Bank
Marathon Petroleum Company
Very special care has been given to the preparation of donor listings. This list is current as of April 20, 2026. We deeply regret any errors and omissions, and appreciate your phone call to Pacific Chorale at (714) 662-2345 or email to ContactUs@PacificChorale.org with needed corrections.
ENDOWMENT FUND
Contributions to Pacific Chorale’s Endowment Fund are invested in perpetuity. The interest generated from the Endowment helps to provide the Chorale with long-term financial stability. The Chorale is delighted to acknowledge its generous Endowment Fund donors. We are deeply grateful to them for their belief and investment in the organization’s future.
COMMITMENTS OF $1,000,000+
William J. Gillespie*
Lori and John Loftus
Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons, Artistic Director Chair
COMMITMENTS OF $100,000 & UP
Kathryn Gibson
Ron Gray*
James and Karen McBride*
George H. I. Reiss*
Ron Rudderow*
Assistant Conductor Chair
Vina and Barry Williams*
COMMITMENTS OF $50,000 & UP
Mike Andrews
Janice Johnson
in memor y of Roger W. Johnson
John* and Jan Landstrom
David and Darrellyn Melilli
John and Elizabeth Stahr*
COMMITMENTS OF $25,000 & UP
Marilyn and Tom Nielsen
COMMITMENTS OF $10,000 & UP
Wells Fargo Bank
Greg and MarJane* Christofferson
Dr. Edward and Mrs. Helen Shanbrom* in memor y of David Lee Shanbrom
COMMITMENTS OF $5,000 & UP
Anne B. Nutt
COMMITMENTS OF $1,000 & UP
Michael Carroll
Dr. James* and Yuko Kawai Dunning
Margaret Gates
Michael and Eleanor* Gordon
Dennis V. Menke
Richard Messenger
Richard McNeil
Jeanette Moon
Donna Morse
Loraine Reed
Carl and Susan St.Clair in celebration of Cole Carsan St.Clair
LEGACY SOCIETY
The Legacy Society recognizes and honors those who have included Pacific Chorale as part of their estate planning. Pacific Chorale gratefully acknowledges the following benefactors for their visionary support, ensuring the preservation of quality choral music and education.
Mark E. Aldrich
John Alexander
Mike Andrews
Joan Sue Betson*
Kenneth and Margaret Blair
Robert D. Breton
Percy Brother ton*
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Campbell
Phyllis and Terry Clark
Warren Coy
Denean R. Dyson
Jacline R. Evered
Roger and Geri Gibb*
Kathryn Gibson
William J. Gillespie*
Susan-Ellen Gilmont*
Gar y Good and Jacqueline Charnley
Ron Gray*
Very special care has been given to the preparation of donor listings. This list is current as of April 20, 2026. We deeply regret any errors and omissions, and appreciate your phone call to Pacific Chorale at (714) 662-2345 or email to ContactUs@PacificChorale.org with needed corrections.
George W. Haas*
George Hatchard*
William and Carol Hatton
Tom and Anne Henley
Mark and Donna Hoover
Dennis L. Houser
Michael and Susan Jacobs
Bonita Jaros and Andrei Novac
Janice Johnson
Barbara Kingsbury
Craig and Deborah Kistler
John* and Jan Landstrom
Randi W. Larsen
Chris and Susan Lindley
John and Lori Loftus
Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons
Karen M. and James S. McBride*
David and Darrellyn Melilli
Richard Messenger
Jeanette Moon
Thomas C. Moore Trust*
Ann and Steve Morris
Betsy and Jerry Moulton*
Carla and Kenneth Neeld
Patricia Newton
Sandy and Val Policky
Thomas A. and Bonnie J. Pridonoff
Loraine Reed
George H. I. Reiss*
Ron Rudderow*
Peggy Schmid
Jane Shepherd
Kirsten and Craig Springer
Susan Van Wig
Martha and Peter Wetzel
Vina Williams*
If you have already remembered Pacific Chorale in your estate plan, or are interested in doing so, please contact us at (714) 662-2345. All inquiries will be strictly confidential.
* deceased
LEARN HOW YOU CAN HELP
Thank you for your support of Pacific Chorale.
PACIFIC CHORALE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Julie Virjee board chair
Executive Committee
Rhett M. Del Campo president & ceo
Amanda Whiting vice chair
Susan Lindley secretary
Brian D. Bates, CPA treasurer
Mary A. Lyons
Craig Springer immediate past chair
Mike Andrews
Jennifer M. Baker
Maria Hall-Brown
Christopher Lindley
Samuel Nordrum
Marcía O’Hern
Ann Pulice Owens
Thomas A. Pridonoff
Stephane Quinn
Ryan Ratcliff artists’ council representative
Michael Vantrease
Charles Zhang
Distinguished Emeritus Directors
Mary A. Lyons, chair emeritus
Michael J. Carroll
Stanley Cochran*
Bonnie Brittain Hall
Janice M. Johnson
Karen Johnson
Jan Landstrom
Marcus Lussier
Thomas H. Nielsen
Anne B. Nutt
George H. I. Reiss*
PACIFIC CHORALE PERSONNEL
Rhett M. Del Campo president & ceo
Robert Istad
artistic director & conductor
John Alexander artistic director laureate
Administration
Alex Nelson vice president, artistic production & operations
Ryan McSweeney director of patron services
Natalie Hunter director of marketing
Natalie Oswald associate director of development
Amy Henderson finance & administration manager
Elizabeth Provencio education program manager
Janis Morse grants manager
Scarlet Baker communications & office liaison
Artistic Staff
Kibsaim Escárcega assistant conductor
David Clemensen, DMA collaborative pianist
Rebecca Hasquet soprano section leader
Jane Hyun-Jung Shim alto section leader
Nicholas Preston tenor section leader
Ryan Thomas Antal bass section leader
Jessica Dalley
Ryan Koo teaching artists
Emma Ginzel Starkey substitute teaching artist
Robert Brader
Bob Gunn
Tomás Kacˇo academy pianists
Volunteer Administration
Barbara Kingsbury
historian
Ryan Ratcliff artists’ council president
Consultants & Support
www.PacificChorale.org
MISSION STATEMENT
Pacific Chorale uplifts the human spirit through exceptional choral artistry, fosters unity across the Southern California community, and cultivates learning through artistic expression at every stage of life.
PACIFIC CHORALE
3303 Harbor Blvd., Suite E5 Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (714) 662-2345
ContactUs@PacificChorale.org
Pacific Chorale is a member of Arts Orange County and Chorus America.
Discover seven floors of possible
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Imagine all this, in the nation’s first zero-carbon emission medical facility. Better still, discover it.
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Eternity is more than you can imagine
Warning: seeing a performance by Brisbane circus company Circa may cause feelings of inadequacy, fear and awe.
—Australian Broadcasting Company
Step into an empty space and be surrounded by the magical music of Arvo Pärt, recorded by the extraordinary Australian Chamber Orchestra. This sets the stage for a sophisticated circus performance like no other, performed by members of the globally renowned Circa ensemble. Circa redefines the art form by showcasing how extreme physicality can forge powerful and emotive experiences, blending movement, dance, theatre and circus.
Circa is one of the world’s great performing arts companies. Based in Brisbane, Australia, they circle the world captivating audiences. Their award-winning performances have earned rave reviews and sold-out shows across six continents.
In Eternity, these talented circus artists explore powerful emotions and delve into profound themes such as love, death, loss, hope and wonder. Through their breathtaking acrobatics and awe-inspiring feats, they express the human experience in a way that will touch your heart.
“Eternity sits at the intersection of circus, dance and spiritual reflection. It is a testament to the maturity of the company and its director Yaron Lifschitz,” says Limelight.
“It is an amazing combination of dance, alluring lifts, grand leaps, ballet, balance, limberness, strength, agility, endurance, trust, fierceness, timing, graciousness, musicality; all of which were extraordinarily and uniquely performed,” says Broadwayworld.com
Eternity is a show that immerses patrons in a state of rapture. As these captivating melodies fill the air, audiences will be surrounded by an atmosphere that transports them to another world. It’s the “human spirit in flight,” says The Australian.
This show goes beyond the physical capabilities of the human body, pushing the boundaries of what we can see and understand. It poses the question: Can circus grapple with the mysteries that lie outside the visible realm? Come and find out.
Judy Morr Theater June 18–20
by David Kelly
Photos
oundsSummer
Juneteenth Celebration featuring South Side Symphony* & Extra Ancestral
June 19
It’s the time of year when the sun stays up late and warm summer evenings almost require you to come out and enjoy live music on the Julianne and George Schreyer Plaza. Come join us as we celebrate June and July with Summer Sounds.
It’s a free, all-ages concert series showcasing the diverse and dazzling talent of Southern California. Come early for preshow fun with food trucks, outdoor games and hands-on activities for all ages! settle in with a drink, a treat, and your favorite people—then let the music take it from there.
Electric Roots presents Let Love Lead
June 12
A soul-stirring celebration of communal love, where music becomes a bridge between generations, genres, and hearts. Let Love Lead is Electric Root’s newest production: an immersive, emotionally rich concert led by acclaimed vocalists Brianna Thomas, C. Anthony Bryant, and Charenee Wade. With a repertoire of beloved songs by Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway, and more, the show transforms the stage into a space of warmth, welcome, and shared spirit.
South Side Symphony (returning for their fifth year at the Center) will be performing for the first time in the Renée and Henry Concert Hall, bringing Anime Juke Jam. This special event explores the global and cultural impact of Black music in anime and Japanese jazz. It will be followed by a free party on the plaza featuring live music by Extra Ancestral, dancing, food trucks and vendors.
Extra Ancestral entertains audiences through the fusion of different cultural manifestations of the African Diaspora, unifying music and dance. In their performances, audiences are likely to experience genres such as afrobeat, reggae, jazz, salsa, and many traditional African musical forms.
*South Side Symphony is a ticketed event
Velvet Soul presents Brown Sugar—A D’Angelo Tribute
June 26
Velvet Soul is the premier R&B/Soul/Funk experience hailing from San Diego. Known for their smooth vocals, rich harmonies and electrifying live performances, Velvet Soul brings a fresh yet timeless sound that blends classic soul with modern R&B. Whether performing original tracks or reimagined favorites, they captivate audiences with their heartfelt grooves and undeniable stage presence. Velvet Soul isn’t just a band, it’s an experience!
D’Angelo was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. Billboard named him one of the greatest R&B artists, while Rolling Stone magazine ranked him as one of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. In 2025, he was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. D’Angelo died in 2025.
Mevina and DJ Aye Dee
July 10
Mevina is a Polynesian vocalist, multiinstrumentalist, and choreographer from Orange County. His work blends traditional Polynesian drumming with contemporary melodies influenced by Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands, Fiji, and Hawaii, creating performances that are both musical and visually driven. Mevina integrates movement and music to present his art as a fully immersive experience.
DJ Aye Dee was born and raised in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. You feel his joy for music through the speakers and song selections ranging from funk, soul, reggae, R&B, and hiphop. (DJ Aye Dee will be playing music from 7–8 pm and from 9:15–9:30 pm).
Undecided Future
July 17
Undecided Future has played around the world for over a decade and have redefined the boy band genre with their pop fusion of funk, hip hop and R&B/soul sounds. Made up of five friends, they became a group while in high school in Orange County and have never looked back. In
2023, the band wrote “Call My Name” for pop star Jordin Sparks and prior to that, sang a duet with pop star Jason Derulo. Over the years, Undecided Future has won numerous awards and has worked with GRAMMY® Award-winning producers. Don’t let their name fool you, this group is fully “Decided” on their future.
Manny Cepeda
July 24
Manny Cepeda, a Puerto Rican composer, arranger, and leader of the Manny Cepeda Orchestra, has just released a new CD, Roots/ Raices and Padre Querido, featuring his original lyrics and musical arrangements. Rooted in the vibrant traditions of Puerto Rico, Manny brings an electrifying blend of Bomba, Plena, and Latin fusion as a fully immersive experience. His music pulses with history, storytelling, and irresistible energy—inviting you to move, connect, and celebrate together under the open sky.
Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, and sweaters to stay comfortable throughout the evening. Enjoy a variety of food and drink options on-site, including local food trucks and George’s Café. Patrons are also welcome to bring their own picnic and non-alcoholic drinks. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all guests, alcohol, glass containers, tables or large furniture, barbecues or cooking equipment are not permitted on the Plaza.
Dance, relax, and soak up the perfect summer night under the stars!
Pictured from left: South Side Symphony, Undecided Future, Mevina, Velvet Soul
Make summer shine for everyone
Most people think of January 1 as a time to plan new beginnings. But what about the beginning of summer? School graduates are looking forward to their future, families are planning vacations and children are happy to be out of school and heading for the beach. It’s a great time to take stock and perhaps do something different.
At the Center, we move into summer with opportunities for children to enjoy a full schedule of arts events. As a nonprofit, our multidimensional offerings—on stage, in classrooms, and in our Orange County neighborhoods—are made possible with generous support from donors like you!
Right now, your donation can have a bigger impact on programs when you participate in our fiscal year-end matching-grant opportunity. Every dollar donated will be doubled, helping your gift go further. Thanks to dedicated Center supporters Michael and Debra Garnreiter, your gift will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $100,000 through June 30. Your family can start the summer vacation knowing that you’ve helped make it a better summer for others too.
Your donation will benefit one of our lifechanging education programs: Studio D: Arts School for All Abilities. Established in 2017, Studio D is a recreational performing arts program for individuals ages 4 and above.
In an intentionally inclusive space for students of all ages and abilities, Studio D celebrates physical and neuro diversity. The guided and supportive atmosphere allows students freedom to explore and develop their creative potential through high quality, joyful arts instruction. Classes are led by professional teaching artists and licensed occupational, physical, or speech therapists.
In Studio D, we applaud breakthroughs. The curriculum offers students the opportunity to engage with their peers and hone their artistry. Class offerings include dance and music, musical theater, theater, and ballet, where students learn various discipline-specific concepts and develop new skills.
By creating a safe space, everyone is free to shine a bit brighter. The program has an 80 percent return rate from previously enrolled students, and financial-need scholarships are available. With your donation, we can welcome more students who can benefit from Studio D.
Whatever your summer plans, we thank you for making a contribution, ensuring access to exceptional arts experiences all year long.
For more information, please contact Sam Nordrum, manager, annual giving, at 714.942.6193, or snordrum@scfta.org.
Give the gift of entertainment
Whether you need a gift for moms, birthdays, dads, or grads, we’ve got you covered!
A Center gift certificate is a perfect solution. Gift certificates are available in any amount of $10 or more and may be used to purchase tickets for any performance at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. For online orders, you can choose a gift certificate design to personalize your gift, no matter what the occasion, and add your own message.
A season of giants
by Sherry Stern
In the moments before the world’s top orchestras and classical artists play their first notes inside the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, there’s undeniable electricity in the audience.
“It’s a very special feeling,” says Tommy Phillips, president and artistic director of the Philharmonic Society of Orange County. When the Philharmonic Society is programming a season, a lure is its primary home, the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Phillips says he considers it one of the great concert halls in this country.
“Many of the orchestras that we bring in have the choice of where they perform. They can be picky on what series and halls they perform in when on tour. And they consistently call us and say, ‘We are planning a tour, we definitely want to make sure we’re on your series.’ It’s because this hall is designed for an orchestra. They’re able to use the hall as an instrument and make great music.”
The Philharmonic Society’s season launches in October with a collaboration of pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, violinist Lisa
Batiashvili, and cellist Gautier Capuçon. “This is a powerhouse trio,” Phillips says. “Any of these artists individually would be a coup for our organization; having the three of them together is very magical.”
Two beloved violinists will return this season, first a recital by Itzhak Perlman in January and then an appearance by Midori with Festival Strings Lucerne in February. Philharmonic Society audiences have come to expect such household names in Costa Mesa. “This is a regular occurrence for us. We present the best of what’s possible in classical music, and we have forged and established strong and longterm relationships with many of these artists,” Phillips says.
The undeniable centerpiece of the season is the return of the Vienna Philharmonic, headlining two concerts conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin in March 2027, one featuring pianist Yuja Wang. This mini residency by one of the world’s top orchestras isn’t something that happens by chance.
“The last visit by Vienna in 2025 was very important for our future,” Phillips says. “It
Photo: Julia Wesely
Vienna Philharmonic
cemented and established a greater long-term relationship between the Philharmonic Society and the orchestra. This orchestra tours all over the world. They perform in every major concert hall, every major series. But when they were here in ’25, they said, ‘Our musicians felt so welcomed and so appreciated here. We would love to come back.’ They loved the concert hall. They loved our audiences, our supporters.”
As Phillips says, that kind of reception isn’t guaranteed, even for such a highly respected and sought-after ensemble. “Many times, it’s just a chance to sell tickets for the presenter. It was more than that for us. It was a chance to bring truly the best in the world to our audience in Orange County and make this orchestra feel as though they were part of our community, even if it was just for a few days.”
Joining the Vienna Philharmonic this season is a wide selection of other leading orchestras. San Diego Symphony and its heralded music and artistic director Rafael Payare perform in November, joined by GRAMMY®-winning pianist Daniil Trifonov. Phillips says under Payare’s direction, San Diego has become “an orchestra that absolutely rivals the top orchestras in the United States. Payare is exuberant and exciting to watch on the podium, and they’re performing with one of the foremost pianists of our generation, Daniil Trifonov.”
Expect a poignant evening in January with a visit from the National Symphony Orchestra of
Ukraine. The orchestra was last here in 2017, well before Russia invaded its homeland. “It has been some time, obviously because of war and strife,” Phillips says. “They will be here next season, and we can celebrate their culture and their identity through the medium which we know best: music.”
In April, San Francisco Symphony visits Costa Mesa. “They are an orchestra of the highest caliber that we regularly invite. This time they come with Donald Runnicles, a seasoned conductor with an amazing history, bringing a beautiful program of Brahms and Vaughan Williams,” Phillips says.
The season finale is a pairing of two stirring composers, Mahler and John Williams, to be performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic with guest conductor Anna Handler. “She is a young dynamic conductor who is making waves in the orchestral world,” Phillips says. “It’s a very impactful way to end the season with a real powerhouse and musically interesting program.”
The Williams piano concerto pays homage to the great jazz pianists that influenced the beloved 94-year-old composer, and the audience will experience the entire breadth of the orchestra with the Mahler. Phillips says, “Mahler’s First Symphony is a powerful, allencompassing masterpiece. I would call it a brighter, more optimistic Mahler than some of the others. You’re ending on an upswing—a great way to end our season.”
Daniil Trifonov
Itzhak Perlman
Photo: Drew Gurian
Photo:
Dario Acosta
Corporate and Foundation Support
Segerstrom Center for the Arts is pleased to thank the following corporations and foundations for providing annual contributions to the Center in support of our artistic and community education programs and our special event and performance sponsorships throughout the year.*
LEAD PERFORMANCE AND EDUCATION SPONSORS
THE SEGERSTROM FAMILY FOUNDATION
2025 CORPORATE AND FOUNDATION SUPPORTERS
The Albertsons Companies Foundation
Anonymous
Automobile Club of Southern California
Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners
Barbara Steele Williams Designated Agency Endowment
Bloomingdale’s South Coast Plaza
BNY Mellon Wealth Management
Canterbury Consulting
Capital Group Companies
Cartier
Crean Foundation
E Nakamichi Foundation
Enterprise Mobility
Gucci
Haynes and Boone, LLP
Mesa Water District
Northern Trust
Orange County Community Foundation
Oscar de la Renta
Pacific Life Foundation
Schools First Federal Credit Union
SPECIAL THANKS
KJAZZ 88.1
Läderach
Total Wine & More
United Airlines
To learn more about the Center’s corporate and foundation partnership opportunities and the benefits available, please contact CorpSupport@scfta.org or 714.942.6326.
ARTS AND BUSINESS LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
Segerstrom Center applauds the following business and community leaders
Maurice Murray, Chairman
Jesse D. Bagley
Katheryn Baker
Lupe Erwin
Cory Glass
John P. Glowacki
Mara J. James
Fiona LeCong-Ly
Monika Lopez
Jill Meznarich
Vanessa Moore
Tammy Octavio
Patrick Strader
Yvonne Tsao
Jaynine Warner
William Meehan, Founding Chairman
* as of April 14, 2026
Family Owned Since 1946 BLOCK & HARDSCAPE
ELIZABETH SEGERSTROM FOUNDATION
Donors
Segerstrom Center for the Arts is enormously grateful for the support from the donors listed on the following pages. Your generosity empowers the Center to provide dynamic performances and artistic education programs for all of Orange County. You allow us to continue our promise to become an inclusive cultural resource for our entire community. Thank you!
CUMULATIVE GIVING
Segerstrom Center for the Arts is deeply grateful to the following donors who have provided extraordinary support during their lifetime:
$20,000,000 +
Julia and George Argyros / Argyros Family Foundation
Audrey Steele Burnand*
William J. Gillespie*
Elizabeth and Henry T.* Segerstrom
$10,000,000 + Anonymous
Toby Andrews Angels of the Arts
Sandy Segerstrom Daniels
Mr. and Mrs. David Wayne Grant
The Guilds of the Center
Richard C. and Virginia A. Hunsaker*
Mr. Donald E. and Lacy Moriarty
Eugene and Ruth Ann Moriarty*
Jean Moriarty*
Richard A. and Marilyn Kayla Moriarty
Reverend and Mrs. Steven Perry
Samueli Foundation
Sally E. Segerstrom
Jennifer and Anton Segerstrom
Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation
Ruth Segerstrom*
Mr. and Mrs. Theodore W. Segerstrom
Mr. Toren H. Segerstrom
Veronica P. Segerstrom
Mrs. Yvonne Segerstrom*
South Coast Plaza
Mrs. Richard Steele*
Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Williams
$5,000,000 +
Bank of America / Bank of America Foundation
Jane and Jim Driscoll
Steve* and Cindy Fry / Fry Family Foundation
The James Irvine Foundation
Ralph and Eleanor Leatherby Family Foundation
General* and Mrs. William Lyon
Phil and Mary Lyons
Harry and Grace Steele Foundation
Swenson Family Foundation
$3,000,000 +
The Boeing Company
Broadway Across America
Freedom Communications, Inc.
Michael and Eleanor* Gordon
Roger and Tracy Kirwan
Times Mirror Foundation and Los Angeles Times
Rick Muth Family/ORCO Block & Hardscape
Dr. Henry Nicholas III
Ms. Stacey Nicholas
Bill and Pat Podlich
Michelle Rohé
$2,000,000 + Anonymous
Zee M. Allred,* Dean C. Allred, Carol Ann Allred Starr
Mrs. D. James Bentley*
Benjamin and Carmela Du
Edison International
The First American Corporation
Fluor Corporation / The Fluor Foundation
John and Toni Ginger
Mark Chapin Johnson
W. M. Keck Foundation
Kia Motors America, Inc.
Kling Family Foundation
Sharon D. Lund Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. George Schreyer
Tara and David Troob
Jean and Tim Weiss
$1,500,000 +
Ginger and Tony Allen
Mr.* and Mrs. James P. Baldwin
The Beall Family
Deborah and Larry J. Bridges
Kevin and Denise Cassin
Eileen J. Cirillo
Cox Communications / Cox Media
Randy and Sally Crockett
Mr. and Mrs. Moti Ferder, Lugano Diamonds
Paul F. and Daranne Folino
Lawrence and Dolores Higby
The Irvine Company
Margaret G. and Thomas E. Larkin*
Paul and Lilly Merage
Mercedes-Benz USA
Mrs. Marjorie T. Rawlins*
Rutan & Tucker, LLP
Spectrum Reach
Elizabeth Colyear Vincent*
Cecil C. and Kathryn H. Wright*
$1,000,000 +
Anonymous
Howard and Roberta Ahmanson
Bette and Wylie Aitken
Automobile Club of Southern California
Dr. Michael M.* and Patricia A. Berns
Mr. and Mrs. William J. Bettingen*
Mr. and Mrs. Grant Bettingen*
Marta and Raj Bhathal
California Bank & Trust
Callero Family Foundation
Ellen and Clarence* Conzelman
Delta Air Lines
Carole and Robert* Follman
Leo Freedman Foundation
June M. Fry
Jackie Glass / Kling Family Foundation
Rondell B. and Joyce P. Hanson
Nora and Charles Hester* and the Hester Family Foundation
George Hoag Family Foundation
S.L. and Betty Huang / Huang Family Foundation
Kaiser Permanente
KJAZZ 88.1
Shanaz and Jack Langson
Corey and Leslie Leyton
Mrs. Colleen Manchester
David and Kathryn Moore
Mrs. Mary E. Moore
Pam and Jim Muzzy
Mr. and Mrs. Frank E. O’Bryan
Pacific Life
Mr. and Mrs. William Roberts
Donna Shannon-O’Bryan
Mr. and Mrs. Ron Simon
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas H. Smith
The Sommerville Trust
Georgia Hull Spooner*
Diane and David Steffy
Dorothy Stillwell*
Susan M. and Timothy L. Strader Family
The Warner Family
Wells Fargo / Wells Fargo Foundation
Mrs. Constance T. Whitney*
Carol* and Kent Wilken
$750,000 + Mary and Richard* Cramer
James* and Catherine Emmi
Maralou and Jerry* Harrington
Dr.* and Mrs. Randall R. McCardle
Mrs. Mary M. Muth*
Trish and John* O’Donnell
Charles and Patricia Poss*
Rockwell International
Bev and Bob Sandelman
Karalyn and Joseph* Schuchert
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Owen Shea
Janice and Ted Smith
The Reinhold Foundation
Mr.* and Mrs. Joseph M. Thomas
Mr. and Mrs. William Thompson
Thomas and Elizabeth Tierney
Thomas and Joyce Tucker Family
$500,000 +
Mr. and Mrs. Richard D. Allen
The Allergan Foundation
Doug and Jaimee Baker
Pamela and Al Baldwin
Dr. and Mrs. Arnold O. Beckman*
Mr.* and Mrs. Benton Bejach
Katherine and Howard Bland
Cartier
Victoria* and David Collins
The John L. Curci Family
Patricia Fredricks-Dolson*
Mr. and Mrs. David Emmes II
Andy and Joan Fimiano
Carol Frobish*
Frome Family Foundation
Harriett F. Grant*
Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Heinz*
Valerie and Hans Imhof
The Joseph Family
JPMorgan Chase & Co. / JPMorgan Chase & Co. Foundation
Barbara* and Robert Kleist
K-MOZART 105.1 FM
Varla E. Newbury Knauss and Curtis A. Knauss
KOCE
Eve A. Kornyei
Classical KUSC
Robert D.* and Patricia B. MacDonald
Marcia L. Millen, in memory of James and Leath Millen
NORDSTROM
The Peter Ochs Family
Jackie Singer and John Pope
Ralphs / Food 4 Less
Carlene Rona*
Estate of Karen Ann Roos
Michael* and Stacy Schlinger
H. Michael and Holly Schwartz
Nick and Heidi Shahrestany
The Shanbrom Family
Shea Homes Foundation
Justice Sheila Prell Sonenshine (Ret.) and Mr. Ygal Sonenshine
Connie and Dr. Peter Spenuzza / Spenuzza Velastegui Family Foundation
John* and Elizabeth Stahr
Valeant Pharmaceuticals
Mrs. Valaree Wahler
Mr. and Mrs. Robert P. Warmington
Wilfred M. and Janet A. Roof Foundation *in memoriam
CENTER FUND
The Center Fund provides general operating support on an annual basis for Segerstrom Center for the Arts and its programs. We are honored to recognize the following individuals, corporations and foundations for their gifts made between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025. Your generosity makes all we do possible—and we thank you! To learn more about the Center Fund and the benefits of giving, please contact us at 714.556.2122 x4009 or Give@scfta.org.
$1,000,000+
Argyros Family Foundation
Lisa Argyros
Stephanie Argyros
Wendy and Mark Hales
$500,000+
Kevin and Denise Cassin
Phil and Mary Lyons
$250,000+
Sandy Segerstrom Daniels
Elizabeth and Henry T.* Segerstrom
Sally E. Segerstrom
$100,000+
Anonymous
Bart and Elizabeth Asner
Estate of Roberta Bouillon
Randy and Sally Crockett
Jane and Jim Driscoll
Elizabeth Segerstrom Trust
Michael and Debra Garnreiter
John and Toni Ginger
Jackie Glass / Kling Family Foundation
The Guilds of the Center
Valerie and Hans Imhof
J.S. Frank Foundation
Kong Family
Karla Kraft and Anderee Berengian
Dale Landon and Carole Haes Landon
The McCardle Family
Jennifer and Brian Niccol
Reverend and Mrs. Steven Perry
John and Sherry Phelan
Pat and Bill Podlich
Michael* and Stacy Schlinger
Mr.* and Mrs. George Schreyer
H. Michael and Holly Schwartz
Tammy and Samuel Tang
$50,000+
Anonymous
Howard and Roberta Ahmanson
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Best
John* and Louise Bryson
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Chan
Eileen J. Cirillo
The John L. Curci Family
David and Molly Pyott Foundation
Dean Family Charitable Fund
Ben and Carmela Du Family Foundation Fund
Anthony and Carie Ferry
Andy and Joan Fimiano
Andra Greene Ellingson and Tom Ellingson
Linda and Gavin Harris
Mr. Matthew M. Jadali
Reza Jahangiri and Kate Levering-Jahangiri
James P. Previti Charitable Fund
Burt and Molly Jolly
The Jonathan and Nicole Cronstedt Foundation
Roger and Tracy Kirwan
Kling Family Foundation
Ms. MaryLois Kuhn
Paul and Bonnie Lubock
Mr. Ethan Morgan
Rick Muth Family/ORCO Block & Hardscape
Lana and Walter Parsadayan
PeopleSpace / Jesse & Amy Bagley
Carolyn Zarate-Ramsey and Robert Ramsey
Ms. Maria Rigatti
Michelle Rohé
Ms. Christy A. Rosen
Ginger Siedschlag
Stewart R. Smith and Robin A. Ferracone
Connie and Dr. Peter Spenuzza / Spenuzza Velastegui Family Foundation
Diane and David Steffy
Swenson Family Foundation
Dr. Michelle and Mr. David Tabb
The Tappan Foundation
Laura and Tim Vanderhook
Jaynine and Dave Warner
Estate of Frances A. Williams
$35,000+
Anonymous
Aronoff Family
Mr. and Mrs. James R. Bergman
Chelsea and Mark Chiaramonte
David and Barbara Cline
Jordan Floriani
Cory Glass
Mrs. Vicki Gumm / Kling Family Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. James Hsu
Jeanne and Doug Jackson
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce W. Kuluris
Britt and Robert Meyer
Marcia L. Millen, in memory of James and Leath Millen
Maryam Parman
The Schreiber Family
Charlie and Ling Zhang
$25,000+
Dr. Janna Bersi
Marta and Raj Bhathal
Katherine and Howard Bland
Deborah and Larry J. Bridges
Maria A. Cadigan
Charles “Chip” Caldwell
California Educational Consultant Group, Inc., Dr. Allan H. Lifson & Isaac Torres
Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence D. Cancellieri
Mr. and Mrs. Edward and Tiffany Chen
Victoria* and David Collins
Bobbi Cox
Mary Cramer
Janet L. Curci
Dottie and Bill Feeney
Diane and Joyce* Froot
GOAL Foundation
Rita and Ira Goldberg
Maralou Harrington
Kathryn Harris
S.L. and Betty Huang / Huang Family Foundation
Mark Chapin Johnson
Lee Graff Foundation
Deborah H. and Jeffrey H. Margolis
Dr. Richard Gates and Dr. Gail Mattson-Gates
Carole McDonald
Haydee Mollura
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Moorhead
Vanessa Moore
Scott and Breanne Myers
Cheryl Hill Oakes
Mr. John R. Patterson
Mary Phillipp and David Johnson
Dr. and Mrs. Richard Pitts
Bev and Bob Sandelman
Melinda and Steven Sanders
Elizabeth and Justus Schlichting
Honorable H. Warren and Janet Siegel
Stephanie and Cory Sukert
Brian and Tracie Sullivan
Ms. Diana Martin and Mr. Mark Tomaino
Wilfred M. and Janet A. Roof Foundation
Carol* and Kent Wilken
$15,000+
Elizabeth An and Gordon Clune
Mr. and Mrs. Darrel Anderson
Katheryn Baker
Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners
Toni Berlinger
The Cameron Family Foundation
Marty Chao and Jean Chung
Mr. and Mrs. D. Robinson Cluck
Mr. Joseph Connor
Mr. and Dr. Debons
Judi Dutton
Mr. and Mrs. W. James Edwards III
Dr. and Mrs. David Eggleston
Ms. Lupe Erwin
Allan* and Sandy Fainbarg
Pat Felbinger
Mrs. Donna Foulger
Frome Family Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. T. Fukunaga*/
Kay K. Fukunaga
Ms. Yolanda Galloway
The Doug* and Julie Garn Family
Mr. and Mrs. John C. Garrett
Kim and Scott Harris-Weiner
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hess
Gay and Rob Johnson
Mike and Lynn Joseph Junebug Fund
Mr. and Mrs. William A. Klein
Mr. and Mrs. C. Ronald Livingston*
The Louise Merage Family Foundation
Brad and Becky Lund
Mr. and Mrs.* Robert J. Mairena
Twyla Martin-Parsky and Gerald Parsky
Mr. and Mrs. James V. Mazzo
Lauri McIntosh and John Bottjer
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph L. McKay
Rebecca and Carl McLarand
Rutan & Tucker, LLP
Mr. and Mrs. Dean Meiling
Mr. Marshall Miller
Pam and Jim Muzzy
Mr. Vianh Nguyen
Nguyen Financial Group, Chien Nguyen and Danny Nguyen
Mr. Rienaldy Nupen
Dr. Kevin O’Grady and Mrs. Nella Webster
Mark and Carol Perry
Purely Storage, Inc.
Ms. Karen Rabe
Joan and Alan Sellers
Mr. and Mrs. Bert Selva
Mr. and Mrs. Ron Simon
Marca and Brian Singer
Mr. and Mrs. Evan Slavik
SREH Properties LLC
Mindy and Glenn Stearns
Dr. and Mrs. Charles Steinmann
Warren Felson and Lucy Sun
Mr. Lee R. Sutherland
Katie and Peter Szyman
Donna and Ray Thagard, Jr.
Tsao Family Foundation
Stacey and Paul Von Berg
The Robert* and Valaree Wahler Family
Mr. George Wall
Paige West
The Whitcher Family
$10,000+
Anonymous (2)
Mrs. Olivia Abel
The Beall Family
Anoosheh Bostani
Mr. and Mrs.* David C. Brown
Mrs. Frances Buchanan
Kimberly Burge
David and Suzanne Chonette
The Crean Foundation
Gail and Jim Daniels
Mr. Jason Dirocco
Michael Dreyer & Hannah An
Mr. Michael Dreyer
Ms. Rhonda Ducote
Robert and LaDorna Eichenberg*
The Eisman Family
The Ernest G. Herman Foundation
Ashley and Zach Fischer
Ms. Mary Gilly Graham
Bill* and Harriet Harris
Hoelscher-Bell-Elliott Foundation
Dr. and Mrs. Gary T. Jenkins
Varla E. Newbury Knauss and Curtis A. Knauss
Mr. Peter Krieger
Dr.* and Mrs. Paul K. Lam
Ms. Fiona LeCong-Ly and Dr. Vietnam Ly
Mr. and Mrs. Randall W. Lewis
Monika Lopez
Douglas (Tad) Lowrey and Gayle Lowrey
Jim and Gale Luce
Patricia Ann and Robert M. Marshall
Ray Melissa and Elena Bedford
Mrs. Elizabeth S. Middleton
Mara and Keith Murray
Bob and Christie Narver
Tamara Octavio
Mr. and Mrs. William Pierce
Helga Pralle
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Primm
Charlie and Kristi Proctor
Jan Vitti Rubel
Trish and Steve Scarborough
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union
Emmanuel Sharef and Emilia Yin
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Owen Shea
Richard and Patricia Shinto
Bill and Ronna Shipman
Tony and Jessy Smith
Kimberly and Joshua Snyder
Arlo and Marci Sorensen
Nancy and Geoffrey Stack
Sue and Ralph Stern
The Suire Family
Mr. and Mrs. Victor Tsao
Adam and Artemis Tuliper
Walk By Faith Foundation
Mr.* and Mrs. Laurence M. Watson
In memory of Barbara Steele Williams*
$5,000+
Anonymous (3)
Mr.* and Mrs. Byron Allumbaugh
Dr. and Mrs. Cyrus Arman
Dr. Fernando H. Austin
Dr. and Mrs. Leslie A. Bain
Pamela and Al Baldwin
Sally Bender
Dr. Michael M.* and Patricia A. Berns
Mr. and Mrs. Colin Best
Dr.* and Mrs. John R. Betson
Mary and John Carrington
Estate of Cinda Shipman Colombana
Mr. William Gordon and Dr. Susan M. Condrey
Greg and Donna Crandall
Mr. William G. Daly
Susan and Robert Ehrlich
Mr. Alexander Eliseev and Mrs. Ilmira Museeva
Mr. and Mrs. David Emmes II
Shari and Harry Esayian
Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Estabrooks
Danika Felty and Victor Ronchetti
Christy and Rich Flanagan
Jeanne Elizabeth Flood
Carole and Robert* Follman
Ms. Gwendolyn Forquer
Mrs. Maria E. Francis
Iris Frankel
Gleicher / Chen Family Foundation
Dina L. Gray
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Grody
Marlene and Sam* Hamontree
Karen Hardin-Swickard
Ms. Kerry L. Hedley
Lawrence and Dolores Higby
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth R. Himes
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hinkle
David L. Horowitz Family
Ms. Victoria Hutton
Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Jaffee
Donna Janes
Barbara Hiller Johnson
Jessica and James Johnson
Janice M. and Roger* W. Johnson
Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy M. Jones
Nicole and Steve Joseph
Dr. Tatiana Kain and Dr. Zeev Kain
Don and Soogie Kang
Barbara Bluhm-Kaul and Don Kaul
Randy and Linda Kearns
Teri Kennady
Eve A. Kornyei
Lisa Kwon
Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Edward LeVasseur, Jr.
Corey and Leslie Leyton
Liz Shea Designs
M.Y. Family Fund
Mrs. Colleen Manchester
Mr. and Mrs. Don W. Martens
Ms. Caren Mason
Mr. and Mrs. Dean Matheson
Mr. and Mrs. Peter T. Meltzer
Lisa and Richard Merage
Michelle Merage
Paul and Lilly Merage
John and Karen Meston
Drs. Michael and Terri Morris
Mr. Maurice Murray and Dr. Jennifer Ballinger Murray
Ms. Sheri Nazaroff
Rey O’Day
Trish and John O’Donnell*
Evelyn and Pete Parrella
Mr. and Mrs. William O. Passo
Marcia Kay and Ron Radelet
Mr. Michael Reimer
Marilyn Hester Robbins and William Robbins
Mr. and Mrs. Loren Rojek
Charles and Kathy Rosenberger
Kathryn Rousek Smith
David and Orva Schramm
Mary Shebell and Merle McCormick
Justice Sheila Prell Sonenshine (Ret.) and Mr. Ygal Sonenshine
Mr. and Mrs. Dean Spanos
Dr. and Mrs. Barry D. Steele
Ronald and June Stein
Mr. John Stevens
Susan M. and Timothy L. Strader Family
Kristin Taylor
Peter and Mary Tennyson
Mr. and Mrs. R. David Threshie, Jr.
Thomas and Elizabeth Tierney
Amy and Jeffrey Vieth
Ms. Elizabeth Wahler
Dr. Christina Wainwright and Mr. Shep Wainwright
Paul and Cheryl Wyrick
Darren and Christina Xanthos
Mr. and Mrs. Allen Yourman
$2,500+
Anonymous
Laurie and Jonathan Abelove
Ms. Kathy R. Akashi
Juanita Albro
American College of Perioperative (ACPM)
Mr. Paul Anderson and Ms. Jessica Parris
Bethany Ayala
Emmons-Babilo Family
Dr. Thomas Bailey
Sharon Barrett
Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Bein
Mr. and Mrs. Joel Benkie
Barbara J. Benson
David Bixler and Kristine Kaneko
Mark and Marilyn Bleak
Mrs. Kimberly and Dr. Stephen Bowen
Bill and Judy Brady
Elisabeth and Dr. Frank Brow
Mr. Joseph Busch
Mike Anderson and Darryl Button
Ms. Constance Callan
Mr. and Mrs. John C. Callard
Jean Campbell
Luisa Cano
Mr. and Mrs. Allen R. Carter
Cartier
Chadwick Family
Mrs. Stella Mae Charton
Dr. and Mrs. Shigeru Chino
Robert and Diana Clemmer
Ronna and Donald Coe
Mr. Jeff Cowan
Michael and Anne Crawford
Ms. Toby Curry
Victoria Cushey
Gabriel Davis
Noël Davis
Mr. Michael R. DeKovner
Jim and Mary Deleo
Lisa Denmark
Dr. Daniel P. Dennies
Mrs. Sandra DiSario
Emmerick Doan
Mr. and Mrs. Donald P. Evarts
Robert Farnsworth and Lori Grayson
Ms. Roberta Feuerstein
In Memory of Joseph and Marsha
Fischer
Dr. and Mrs. Gordon R. Fishman
Mrs. Bridget Ford
Lynn and Douglas K. Freeman
Ms. Nicole Fusaro
Mike and Sharon Galassi
Mrs. Jerra L. Garrett
Lionel and Stephanie Gayron
Ms. Rhona W. Gewelber
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher
Ms. Bridget Gormly
Don and Nancy Gormly
Mr. Paul J. Grogan
Mr. Gustav and Ms. Anyanka
Bruce and Eileen Harrigan
Mark and Kristine Howlett
Mark Ike
Jackson Tidus
Kristin Jackson
Mrs. Susie Jaqua
Ms. Cynthia L. Jennings
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Keith
Keller Family Fund
Dr. Joe Baker and Dr. Elliott Kornhauser
Richard and Lynne Kramer
Mr. Sean Lair
Randy and Sarah Lake
Latham & Watkins
Ms. Michelle Lee
Dr. and Mrs. Milton Legome
Steven and Rose Lesser
Mr. Charles W. Letzgus
Jeanne Lewand
Mark and Felicia LeWinter
Paula Lingelbach
Mr. and Mrs. Phong Luu
Peggy Lynch
In Memory of Victorio Adan Maestas
Dr. Goran S. Matijasevic
Mr. and Mrs. William K. Mawhorter
George and Sarah McDaniel
Ms. Sarah McElroy
Susan Mears
Mr. and Mrs. David V. Melilli
Willis L. and Dorothy M. Miller and Family
Miss Ariana Miramontes
Moises Montoya
Newmeyer & Dillion
The Minoru Nitta Family
Mr. James Ojinaga
Annette and Joseph Oltmans II
Palm Foundation
Ms. Carla Pellicano
Sandra and Dan Perlmutter
Ms. Diane Peterson
Pharris Group
Mr. Willard Pierce
Pirzadeh & Associates, Inc.
Mrs. Tricia Pratto
Patricia Price and Craig Behrens
Devashankar Purkayastha
Psm Rmp Solutions
Dev Purkayastha
Dallas and Dannie Raines, in honor of Jane Yada
John Rallis and Mary Lynn BergmanRallis
Suzanne C. and Jim H. Reinhardt
Mr. Rick Reischman
David* and Linda Roberson Family
The Ronnenberg Family
Dr. Judy Fluor Runels, in memory of Gregory Osborne
Lisa Rutherford
Ms. Adrienne Salyer
Sandy and Harriet Sandhu
Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Schneider
Craig L. Sengstock
Ms. Shari Simmons
Lance and Deborah Slimmer
Dr. John J. Smith and Mr. Edward R. Escoto
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald E. Soderling
Mr. and Mrs. Morris Stark
Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Stein
Susan and Richard Stuelke
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis J. Sweeney
Mr. and Mrs. Victor Swift
Michael and Suzanne Tague
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Thacker
Mary Tolar
Dr. David L. Tsoong and Dr. Betty K. Tu
Ms. Patricia Turney
Ann Van Ausdeln
S. Vander Wal and S. Vincent
Ambassador and Mrs. Gaddi H. Vasquez
Ms. Isabelle Villaseñor
Mrs. Joanne Vuylsteke
Megan and John Waldeck
In Memory of Robert D. Walters
Geofrey Wickett and Normand Lessard
S. Gayle Widyolar, M.D.
Mrs. Bobbitt Williams
D and G Winzey
Wayne Wolfe
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Zadjmool
Dr. Reza Zarghami
Mr. and Mrs. Dean J. Zipser
*in memoriam
ENDOWMENT
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
thanks the following donors who have generously provided support to the Center’s Endowment Funds. Gifts to the Endowment provide financial support for our artistic and education programs every year. Funds exist in perpetuity as investments whose earnings make the arts accessible for future generations.
$1,000,000 +
Audrey Steele Burnand*
Estate of Edra E. Brophy / William J. Gillespie Foundation
Nora and Charles Hester* and the Hester Family Foundation
W. M. Keck Foundation
Barbara Steele Williams Fund
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Steele*
Harry and Grace Steele Foundation
Swenson Family Foundation
The James Irvine Foundation
The Segerstrom Foundation
$500,000 +
Dr. Michael M.* and Mrs. Patricia A. Berns
Fluor Corporation
The Fluor Foundation
Carol Frobish*
Times Mirror Foundation and Los Angeles Times
Rockwell
Estate of Karen Ann Roos
Mrs. Constance T. Whitney*
$250,000 +
Bank of America
Nancy Marie Biram*
The First American Corporation
Patricia Fredricks-Dolson
Edison International
Isidore C. and Penny W.* Myers
$100,000 +
Daniel C.* and Janet S. Bonbright and Sons
Estate of Ford A. and Wilma J. Dickerhoff
Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Engman
Helen B. Fait
Elizabeth E. Fleming*
William Randolph Hearst Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Heinz
Richard C. and Virginia A. Hunsaker*
Peter G. and Mary M. Muth* and Family
Estate of Michael D. and Lorraine C. Nadler
Nestle USA, Inc.
The Orange County Register
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas H. Smith
Ronald E. Soderling
Virginia Valentine
Nancy B. Veitch and Chris and Irene Veitch
Estate of Jane D. Zimmerman
Dr. and Mrs. David E. Zinke, Brandon, Heidi & Benjamin
$50,000 +
The Birtcher Family
Founders Plus
Evelyn and Richard Francuz
Sonia and Earle Ike
Barbara Hiller Johnson
Mark Chapin Johnson
Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Macklin
Palley-Needelman Asset Management
Dr. and Mrs. James E. Pierog, Jessica and Margaux
Ralphs / Food 4 Less
Estate of Howard G. and Margaret C. Richardson
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen L. Salyer
Al and Susan Shankle
Mr. Stewart R. Smith
Ms. Anita Sparrow*
Wells Fargo
In memory of Barbara Steele Williams
$25,000 +
The Beall Family
Victor H. Boyd
Dr. and Mrs. Darrell J. Burnett
Chris and Lee Ann Canaday
The Carl and Patricia Neisser Family Trust
Dr. and Mrs. Shigeru Chino
David and Victoria* Collins, Jennifer, Nicole and David
Bjorn and Gloria Dahlberg and Family
Ruth Ding, in memory of Thomas and Mary Lee
James* and Catherine Emmi
Dr. Dennis R. Fratt
The Baker Frenzel Family
Mr.* and Mrs. H. F. Hamann
Nat S. and April D. Harty
Las Campanas of Orange County
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher B. Lucas
Charles W. and Candace J. McBrayer
Dr. and Mrs. Seymour J. Melnik
Dr. and Mrs. Richard P. Mungo
Mr. and Mrs. Richard G. Nelson
Joseph and Mary Norton Family
Mr. and Mrs. Bradford Harold Miller*
O’Neil Moving Systems, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony H. Osterkamp Jr.
Nicholas S. Patin
Stanley R. Robb Family
In honor of Mary Isabelle Sandberg
Robert J. Searles
In memory of Renée Segerstrom
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Shaver and Family
Thomas and Joyce Tucker Family
In memory of Faye Wilkinson
Dr. and Mrs. Douglas A. Wilson
$10,000 +
Mrs. Donald V. Bassler
The William A. Baxter Family
George and Jacqueline Birdsong
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Birtcher
Mr. and Mrs. Peter F. Bowie
Susan Boyd
Mr. Lawrence H. Butler Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Callahan
The Clubhouse
Con Gusto Chapter of The Guilds of the Center
Mr. and Mrs. Edmond M. Connor
Mr. and Mrs. Warren C. Dean, Jr.
Ms. Julie Brinkerhof Edwards
Mr. Aaron Egigian
Alan* and Sandy Fainbarg Family
John and Carolyn Garrett
Mr. and Mrs. Gerald H. McQuarrie
GoodSmith & Co., Inc.
William K. and Maxine Gresswell*
Dr. and Mrs. G. Stanley Hall
Gayford and Mary Hinton
Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Hoshaw
Mr. and Mrs. Jay D. Jaeger
Ronald E. and Debra P.* Jagner
Hunter B. Keck
Mrs. Suzanne Kline
Dr. Elliott Kornhauser
Mrs. Susan Lambrose
Ronald C., Vincencia M., Elisabeth L. and Heather D. Lazof
Mr. and Mrs. George Leeper
Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Mallory
Mr. and Mrs. Brad McCroskey
R. Patrick* and Jeannette L. McDaniel
Mr. and Mrs. Steven A. McHolm
Estate of Ralph and Rose Meyer
Mr. and Mrs. J. Stanley Mullin, Jr. Newmeyer & Dillion
Jerry Nourse
Cheryl Hill Oakes
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker
Mr. and Mrs. Tim Paone
Mr. and Mrs. Chris F. Pauls
Mr. Charles Peyton, II
Betty Mower Potalivo
Ted and Jean Robinson and Family
Mrs. Betty Scheidt
Douglas F. Schneider and Family
Rudolph C. Schweitzer*
In memory of Hartley M. Sears
Renée and Henry T. Segerstrom*
Mr. and Mrs. William Shryock and Family
Linda and Harvey A. Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald E. Soderling
Steven-Thomas Antiques
The Stone Family
Dr. Max Swancutt Jr.
Mr. Stewart C. Woodard
Mr. and Mrs. Rob Ukropina
Ms. Lucia Van Ruiten
Mr. Edward H. Wale
Margaret and Maurie Watman
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Wilson
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel K. Winton
Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Orrin Wright
Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Yellin*
LEGACY SOCIETY
Segerstrom Center for the Arts thanks the following donors who have included the Center in their estate plans. These gifts help ensure that we allow access to the arts for the entire community. For more information on how to include the Center in your estate plans
please contact Elizabeth Kurila, CSPG, Associate Vice President, Development, 714.942.6275
Anonymous (3)
Edna and Julio Aljure
Mr. and Mrs. Richard D. Allen
Bart and Elizabeth Asner
Doug and Jaimee Baker
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Barnett
John and Betty Barr
Dorothy and Donald* Bendetti
Dr. Michael M.* and Patricia A. Berns
Estate of Bernice M. Bishop
Katherine and Howard Bland
Estate of Roberta Bouillon
Barbara and Alex Bowie
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph E. Brown, Jr.
Charles “Chip” Caldwell
Dr.* and Mrs. James H. Casey
Eileen J. Cirillo Trust
Elizabeth and David* Cole
David and Victoria* Collins, Jennifer, Nicole and David
Estate of Cinda Shipman Colombana
John and Jennifer Condas
Randy and Sally Crockett
Mr. and Ms. Ed Danoff
Mr. and Mrs. William K. Davis
Ms. Virginia Dey
Mr. Joe DiCorpo and Ms. Mia MacDougall
Annette Doreng-Sterns
Mary Jane McArthur Edalatpour and Nasrola Edalatpour
Mr. and Mrs. David Emmes, II
Shari and Harry Esayian
Mr. Harold W. Faber
Ms. Linda S. Ford
Dr. Dennis R. Fratt
Mrs. Sandra M. French
Mr. and Mrs. T. Fukunaga*/ Kay K. Fukunaga
Michael and Debra Garnreiter
John and Carolyn Garrett
Jackie Glass
Dr. Susan M. Condrey and William Gordon
Jean and Fred* Hamann
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas T. Hammond
Howard and Carol Hay
Steve Heit
Lawrence and Dolores Higby
Higgins Family Trust
David L. Horowitz Family
Mark and Kristine Howlett
S.L. and Betty Huang / Huang Family Foundation
Traute Huycke
Ken Jillson and Al Roberts*
Suzanne Jones
Estate of Frances A. Williams
Varla E. Newbury Knauss and Curtis A. Knauss
Mr. Gary A. Kreitz and Ms. Joyce Singman
Elizabeth Kurila and Michael Mindlin
Dale Landon and Carole Haes Landon
Richard and Gerrie Leeds
Michael and Lee Ann Litterst
Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons
James, Charlene and Katherine MacDonald
Estate of Robert D. and Patricia B. MacDonald
The McLarand Family Trust
Marcia L. Millen
Mr. Robin B. Miner
Ethan Morgan
Dr. and Mrs. Richard P. Mungo
Rick Muth
Thomas H. and Marilyn* Nielsen
Cheryl Hill Oakes
O’Neill Moving Systems, Inc. / Carolyn O’Neill
Mrs. Charlotte R. Paluzzi
Lenore and Carl* Pearlston
Mark and Carol Perry
Jackie Singer and John Pope
Jeffrey A. Punim, M.D.
Mr. Burton Reis
David* and Linda Roberson Family
Ted and Jean Robinson and Family
Mr. Richard K. Rosenberg
Dr. Judy Fluor Runels, in memory of Gregory Osborne
Bev and Bob Sandelman
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Schoellerman
Mr.* and Mrs. George Schreyer
In Memory of Allen O. Smith
Steven M. Sorenson, M.D.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Sparks
Diane and David Steffy
Richard R. and Phoebe Stenton
Dr. Arthur Strick
Mr. Lee R. Sutherland
Tammy and Samuel Tang
Ms. Nancy B. Tepper
Don L. Thompson
Thomas and Joyce Tucker Family
Gary and Jeri Turner
Ms. Lucia Van Ruiten
Christopher O. Veitch
Stacey and Paul Von Berg
The Robert* and Valaree Wahler Family
Ms. Jill H. Watkins
Kent J. and Carol L. Wilken Family
Dr. David and Audrey Zinke, Brandon, Heidi & Benjamin
*in memoriam
Center Staff
EXECUTIVE OFFICE
Casey Reitz, President & CEO
Angelica Camarillo, Executive Assistant & Board Liaison
OPERATIONS
Brian Finck, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer•
Finance
Seila Heng, Controller•
MeiMei Chiang, Senior Accountant
Andrew Hudson, Assistant Controller
Monica Drescher, Generalist, Accounting•
Rita Mai, Staff Accountant
Information Technology
Dean Yarborough, Chief Information Officer
David Frederick, Director, Information Technology•
Samwel Basweti, Engineer, Network
Mario Hortizuela, Specialist, Systems Support
Erik Lomack, Generalist, IT Support
Dee Bierschenk, Analyst, Databases
Richard Todd, Manager, Ticketing Functional Support•
Ashley Gaddis, Functional Support, Ticketing•
Campus Operations & Facilities
David Leavenworth, Vice President, Campus Operations & Facilities•
Brian Keating, Senior Director, Facilities and Engineering•
Max Stossier, Director, Campus Operations•
Mary Arkfeld, Manager, Operations, Event Operations
Lindy Luong, Manager, Facility Rentals
Jordan Smyth, Manager, Special Projects
Aidan Daguro, Assistant Manager, Production, Event Operations
Brennan Roach, Supervisor, Event Operations•
Denise Cruz, Coordinator, Production, Event Operations
Dawson McDonald, Coordinator, Campus Operations
Engineering
Bryan Vojtko, Senior Building Engineer•
Richard Whitfield, Senior Building Engineer•
Bryan Murphy, Building Engineer II
Gus Aleman, Building Engineer
Jade Baer, Building Engineer
Sean Robertson, Building Engineer
Amber Secor, Building Engineer
Security
Anthony Bordon, Manager, Security Operations
Tyler Cole, Manager, Public Safety and Training•
Jaime Paz, Assistant Manager, Security
Alvin Camacho, Supervisor, Security
Austin Foster, Supervisor, Security
Shey Leir, Supervisor, Security
John Standokes, Supervisor, Security
Lee Yepez, Supervisor, Security•
HUMAN
RESOURCES
Marvin Lee, Vice President, Human Resources
Maile Sagiao, Director, Human Resources
Stefani Taylor, Manager, Recruitment
Karen Duncan, Generalist, Human Resources•
Jon Gibson, HRIS Specialist
Indicates years of
PROGRAMMING & PRODUCTION
Limor Tomer, Vice President, Programming and Production
Chris Smith, Director, Production
Stacey Myers, Manager, Attorney/Contracts•
Priscilla Reyes, Manager, Community Programming
Kelly Ornelas, Executive Assistant & Programming Coordinator•
Education & Engagement
Lisa Morabito Petersen, Vice President, Education & Engagement
Emily Neely, Director, Engagement
Cristal Ochoa, Director, Education Programs
Alexis Johnson, Senior Manager, Education Partnerships•
Chloe Saalsaa, Senior Manager, Studio D
Bethany Umbach, Senior Manager, Education Programs•
Luke Spicer, Manager, Education & Engagement Operations
Michael Mariano, Associate Manager, Education Partnerships•
Katie Nguyen, Senior Coordinator, Education Partnerships
Adriana Alvarez, Coordinator, Studio D
Joanna Huang, Coordinator, Ed. Programs
Emma Marting, Coordinator, Ed. Programs
Talia Hirsch, Associate, Ed. Partnerships
Jordyn Williams, Associate, Ed. Operations
Production
John Oliphant, Senior Director, Production and Technical•
Glenn Powell, Manager, Production, Event Operations
Segerstrom Hall
Willy J Pate, Production Carpenter
Sara Broadhead, Head Electrician•
James Wilcox, Head Audio Engineer
Chris Alva, Assistant In-Charge Multicraft•
Tim Ligatti, Assistant In-Charge Carpenter•
Matthew Cadenhead, Assistant In-Charge Electrician
Michael Clifford, Assistant Carpenter
Sean Roach, Assistant Multicraft
Ariel Mouzo, Assistant Multicraft
Alexis Vasquez Riggs, Wardrobe Supervisor
Kim Robinson, Hair & Makeup Supervisor
Renée and Henry Segerstrom
Concert Hall & Samueli Theater
John Vasquez, Production Carpenter
Gregg Snider, Head Electrician•
John Downey, Head Audio Engineer•
Phil Harris, Assistant Multicraft
Eileen Jeanette, Tönmeister
Mark Cook, Assistant Electrician•
Timothy Schmidt, Assistant Audio Engineer
American Ballet Theatre
William J. Gillespie School
Susan Brooker, Artistic Director, ABT
Sarah Jones, Associate Director, ABT
Mary Dunne, Coordinator, ABT
DEVELOPMENT
Abigail Buell Sherlock, Vice President, Development
Elizabeth Kurila, Associate Vice President, Development
Courtney Dudman-Donley, Senior Director, Special Events & Donor Experience
Tyler Choi, Director, Institutional Giving
Lindsey Jacobs, Director, Gift Planning Strategies
Kay Linan Clark, Associate Director, Individual Giving
Suzanne Gregory, Associate Director, Development Operations
Johnny Eberhardt, Senior Manager, Institutional Giving
Emily Hunn, Senior Manager, Support Groups
Abigail Jimenez, Senior Manager, Board Relations
Bernadette Ramos, Senior Manager, Donor Relations
Jamie Roff, Senior Manager, Development Systems•
April Kunowski, Manager, Planned and Major Gifts
Danielle McMahan, Manager, Special Events
Samuel Nordrum, Manager, Annual Giving
Shimin Zheng, Manager, Support Groups
Marisa Rambaran, Prospect Researcher and Development Operations
Katie Lockie, Assistant Manager, Donor Stewardship
Emily Pearce, Assistant Manager, Support Groups
Camille Slusher, Assistant Manager, Annual Giving
Sierra Detar, Special Events Officer
Olivia Vezner, Specialist, Special Events
Reina Pelky, Coordinator, Donor Relations
Audrey Burton, Executive Assistant, Development
MARKETING & GUEST SERVICES
Lisa Middleton, Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Carla Cruz, Senior Director, Communications
Emyli Gudmundson, Senior Director, Program Marketing
Jonathan Vietze, Senior Director, Series Marketing•
Christopher Alvarez, Director, Creative Services•
Karen Drum, Director, Publications•
Anne McNiff-Gaeta, Director, Group Services•
Jennifer Burroughs, Manager, Digital Marketing
Joesan Diche, Manager, eCommerce Marketing•
Emily Doughty, Manager, Social Media
Karla Torres, Manager, Marketing Operations•
Ken Catino, Graphic Designer IV•
Marianne Luwiharto, Graphic Designer III
Jennifer Siglin, Graphic Designer III•
Susie Lopez, Specialist, Communications
William Olivieri, Specialist, Marketing & Advertising
Jacquelyn Pash, Specialist, Communications
Diana Torres, Assistant, Group Sales•
Lily Figueroa, Coordinator, Marketing
MJ Salanga, Copywriter
Ticketing
Ruth Mason, Director, Ticket Services
Karen Diche, Manager, Season Tickets•
Richard Ong, Manager, Calling Center•
Nicki Wilmot, Manager, Box Office
Evan Silveria, Assistant Manager, Box Office•
Amelia Lindqvist, Supervisor, Contact Center
Ray Madrid, Supervisor, Box Office
Sam Preshaw, Supervisor, Box Office
Hannah Schill, Supervisor, Ticket Services
Amanda Snell, Supervisor, Ticket Services
Charlotte Kenney, Lead, Ticket Services
Hailey Guerrero, Lead, Ticket Services
Ashley Isidoro, Specialist, Customer Services
Vanessa Resendiz, Specialist, Customer Services
Marcie Bernal, Receptionist•
Alberto Ponce, Coordinator, Office Services•
Audience Services
Norm Major III, Director, Audience Services•
Sue Laird, Senior Manager, Audience Services
Ashleigh Hector, Manager, Audience Services•
Alex Lum, Asst. Manager, Audience Services•
Regine Rutherfurd, Administrative Assistant, Audience Services
Tanya Siddiqi, M.D., Medical Director, Lymphoma, City of Hope Orange County
Kathy W., Grateful Patient
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