2026-27
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S H E LLE Y U N LE A S H E S TH E PACI F I C
Alexander Shelley Artistic & Music Director Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons Artistic & Music Director Chair
Dennis Kim First Violin Concertmaster, Eleanor and Michael Gordon Chair
Emma Lee Cello
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The Outsiders
Table of Contents September 2026
6
Welcome
7
Calendar of events
8
Planning ahead
20
From Board Chair and President & CEO
by Limor Tomer
10 The Center celebrates Orange County’s rich Hispanic culture
14 Center dance season opens with Houston Ballet
P1 Program
Cast, performances, who’s who, program notes, and more
18
18 Coltrane and Ellington reimagined
22 Brooklyn Rider gallops into town
24 Donors
Thank you to our supporters
32 Center staff
Jason Moran
Photo: Clay Patrick McBride
20 Outsiders, stay gold
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On view through
October 18, 2026 Raymond Saunders, Layers of Being, 1985. Mixed media on canvas, 81 x 59 15/16 x 1 in. Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William Block, 2001.37.9 © 2025 Estate of Raymond Saunders
On view through
October 4, 2026
Paul Grimm, Untitled, after 1932. Oil on canvas, 36 x 46 in. UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art, gift of George E. Moss, Jr. in memory and honor of Mr. Roscoe and Edith Moss
Segerstrom Center for the Arts 3333 Avenue of the Arts Costa Mesa, CA 92626 langson.uci.edu
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Dear Friends, September is a month of celebration at Segerstrom Center for the Arts as we mark an extraordinary milestone: 40 years of bringing the arts to life in Orange County. For four decades, the Center has been a place where unforgettable performances, creativity, and community come together on our stages, in classrooms, and throughout our campus. We invite you to join us on Sunday, September 13 for a free, campus-wide celebration honoring this remarkable anniversary. It will be a day to gather with friends and family, celebrate the artists and audiences who have shaped the Center, and look ahead to an exciting new chapter. We hope you will be part of this special moment in our history. This anniversary season also welcomes a major new initiative: the Center’s first-ever artist in residence, composer, pianist, and multi–GRAMMY® Award winner Arturo O’Farrill. Acclaimed OC local Krysta Rodriguez brings her powerhouse vocals and magnetic stage presence to the Center. Audiences can also experience the energy and imagination of Attacca Quartet and go back in time in The Sixties Show. The excitement continues as we launch the 2026–27 Broadway season with Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. This spectacular production invites audiences of all ages to experience the beloved story, unforgettable music, and theatrical magic that makes Broadway so special. Our resident company, Pacific Symphony, led by Music Director Alexander Shelley, welcomes internationally renowned violin virtuoso Joshua Bell for a highly anticipated performance. As we celebrate our past and step confidently into the future, we are grateful for your continued support and belief in the power of the arts. Thank you for being part of the Segerstrom Center community.
Casey Reitz President & CEO
John H. Phelan Jr. Chair, Board of Directors
Board of Directors John H. Phelan Jr., Chair Casey Reitz, President & CEO Stewart R. Smith, Treasurer Holly Breaux Schwartz, Secretary
Photo: Owen Scarlett
Welcome
Betty Huang Jeanne Jackson Molly Jolly Harmon Kong Karla Kraft Shanaz Langson Julia A. Argyros Kate Levering-Jahangiri Bart Asner, M.D. Jim Mazzo Jesse Bagley William F. Meehan Marta S. Bhathal Ethan F. Morgan Louise Bryson Rick Muth Mark Chan Jennifer Niccol Sally S. Crockett Walter Parsadayan Sandra Segerstrom Daniels Mark C. Perry Andra Greene Ellingson Elizabeth Segerstrom Carie Jernquist Ferry Ginger Siedschlag John Ginger Connie Spenuzza Jackie Glass John E. Stratman Jr. Wendy Hales Samuel Tang
Kelly Thomson Laura Vanderhook Gaddi H. Vasquez Jaynine Warner Brendan Welch Jane Fujishige Yada Henry T. Segerstrom,* Founding Chairman Directors Emeritus Anthony A. Allen* Lawrence M. Higby Roger T. Kirwan Pat L. Poss* Timothy L. Strader David H. Troob Carol L. Wilken* * in memoriam
Resident Companies Mark Nielsen, 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 Fiona LeCong-Ly, 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
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Photo: Owen Scarlett
Calendar of events October 2026 Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Houston Ballet Sons de L’âme
September 22–October 11
October 15–18
Shelley Conducts Mahler 2: Resurrection
Rocky Horror Picture Show: Hallow-Queen Spooktacular
October 1–3
October 16
Symphony Spooktacular October 24
Yellow Bird Chase October 24–25
Shelley Conducts Dukas & Strauss
Isaiah Collier Plays Coltrane
Orff’s Carmina Burana
October 3
October 17
Brooklyn Rider String Quartet
The Outsiders
Jason Moran’s Duke Ellington: My Heart Sings
October 20–November 1
October 27
October 11
Thibaudet, Batiashvili, CapuÇon Trio
Shelley Conducts the Sorcerer’s Apprentice & Strauss
October 13
October 22–24
October 25
November 2026 The Outsiders October 20–November 1
Brentano String Quartet November 1
Simply Ina: An Evening Conversation with Ina Garten November 11
Bluey’s Big Play
San Diego Symphony with Daniil Trifonov
November 4–5
November 13
Joaquina Kalukango
Broadway Divas
November 5–7
November 13–14
Idina Menzel
Nobu Plays Rachmaninoff’s Mighty Third
November 6–7
Barber, Beach & More November 8
Water for Elephants November 10–22
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with Isata Kanneh-Mason
November 19–21
Milo the Magnificent November 21–22
Bluey’s Big Play
Legend: Segerstrom Hall Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall Samueli Theater Julianne and George Argyros Plaza Artists, events and dates subject to change; visit scfta.org for up-to-date details and times.
November 10
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by Limor Tomer
It’s with great excitement and anticipation that I join you for the opening of the 202627 season, my first as the vice president, programming and production at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. What I love most about this season is that it embodies the interactions and experiences that I’ve come to cherish so dearly about Orange County. The dance, jazz, cabaret, and chamber music series are all in conversation with one another— arguing, flirting, improvising, confessing, remembering. Sometimes elegantly. Sometimes loudly. In other words, art behaving exactly like human beings. And perhaps that’s why this season feels especially meaningful right now. As we celebrate our 250th anniversary as a nation and the 40th anniversary of the Center, our 2026–27 season makes a remarkably confident argument for curiosity, openness, and willingness to embrace cultural complexity. The Los Angeles Times captured this sentiment beautifully in its recent praise of ¡VIVA! The Spenuzza Series (see page 11), the Center’s premier Latin and Hispanic programming initiative, noting that Segerstrom Center is “moving into the next 40 years with a bold and expansive vision.” This vision is perhaps most visible in the appointment of Arturo O’Farrill as the Center’s first-ever artist in residence—a landmark moment both for the Center and the musical landscape of Orange County. O’Farrill is not merely a jazz musician, though he is certainly one of the great ones. He is a cultural bridgebuilder, educator, historian, activist, cultural leader, and storyteller.
Photo: Roman Novitsky
Planning ahead
Orange County is blessed with an astonishing diversity which breeds immense creativity, a direct result of the cultural identities that coexist and flourish here. The jazz series this year doesn’t simply acknowledge that reality; it celebrates it joyfully and unapologetically. O’Farrill’s Rumba para Monk is maybe the fullest manifestation of jazz: free within a structure; improvised yet historically grounded, deeply intellectual yet mischievous. Isaiah Collier channels John Coltrane with explosive spiritual energy. Jason Moran bends Duke Ellington’s iconic language through a fearless contemporary imagination, making the past feel startlingly alive. (Read more about Collier and Moran on page 18 of this issue.) Lucía folds Mexican son jarocho into contemporary jazz language with astonishing ease. Over in Segerstrom Hall, the Dance Series reflects this same sense of vitality, relevance, and emotional immediacy. Houston Ballet’s Sons de L’âme, built around the music of Frédéric Chopin, feels like an extended meditation on longing itself. Chopin somehow understood that human beings are forever trying to appear composed while internally unraveling in highly decorative ways. Watching dancers physically embody those emotional undercurrents while pianist George Li performs live on the stage seems almost unfairly beautiful. If you’re craving pathos, I propose Stuttgart Ballet’s Onegin. John Cranko’s choreography possesses a rare cinematic quality where every gesture feels psychologically loaded. Add Tchaikovsky’s music performed live by Pacific Symphony and suddenly your elegant evening
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Photo: Jeff Mills
Photo: Dave Welch Photo: Arcis Visuals
at the ballet becomes an existential reckoning. And then Ballet Hispánico New York arrives with Don Q: In Pursuit of the Impossible, bringing theatricality, sensuality, and wit. Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s choreography is equal parts classical rigor and expressive freedom. As an added special bonus, they will perform with a live symphony orchestra—our own Pacific Symphony—for the first time in the company’s history. Which brings us to chamber music, where the programming premise this year is: Can we all agree that Beethoven was both a genius and, frankly, kind of a nightmare? The Chamber Music Series may secretly be the most subversive of the season. We’re introduced to Beethoven not as a marble bust looming over Music History 101, but as a volatile, stubborn, complicated human being: rude yet brilliant, emotionally chaotic yet deeply spiritual. And, in the end, utterly transformative. The series’ framing of Beethoven as a pulsing bundle of contradictions gives us permission to hear his music not as sacred homework but as a living emotional document. His works contain tenderness, rage, swagger, vulnerability, transcendence, sarcasm—often within the same page of music. Takács Quartet brings legendary authority; Brentano String Quartet warmth and intellectual depth; Brooklyn Rider String Quartet fearless contemporary energy (read more on page 22); Catalyst Quartet a thrillingly fresh perspective shaped by race, migration, and contemporary identity. Even the Arcis Saxophon Quartett arrives ready to gleefully dismantle assumptions about how chamber music is supposed to sound.
Pictured from far left: Arturo O’Farrill; Stuttgart Ballet’s Onegin; Aarcis Saxophon Quartett; Lizzy and the Triggermen; Tituss Burgess
There’s also something uniquely intimate about hearing chamber music in Samueli Theater. The experience becomes less about perfection and more about listening itself— human beings paying exquisite attention to one another in real time. And finally, cabaret: the art form that asks, “What if emotional vulnerability wore fabulous outfits and had impeccable comic timing?” This year’s lineup is almost absurdly rich in personality. Our hometown girl Krysta Rodriguez brings contemporary Broadway intelligence and emotional candor. Joaquina Kalukango possesses one of those voices that seems capable of rearranging your very molecules. Tituss Burgess promises glorious chaos, humor, virtuosity, and soul in equal measure. Conrad Ricamora offers elegance and introspection. Lizzy and the Triggermen closes the season with vintage swing and noir glamour. Taken together, these four series create something unusually cohesive. They ask the same big questions through wildly different artistic languages: What connects us? Where is hope? How do we carry forward? Sometimes the answer arrives through a Beethoven quartet, sometimes through a rumba groove, or en pointe. Sometimes through a Broadway ballad sung while you sip your cocktail. That’s the magic of an integrated season. Not simply that it entertains us—though this one certainly will—but that it reminds us how many ways there are to feel human.
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Photo: Matthew Murphy
The Center celebrates Orange County’s rich Hispanic culture
Photo: Axel Buecker
Photo: Jen Rosenstein
Buena Vista Social ClubTM
Arturo O’Farrill SUGAR SKULL! 10 SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS ®
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Photo: Matthew Murphy
Who says we don’t have history in California? The first Spanish mission in this state was built 257 years ago in San Diego. Altogether, seven missions were built in Southern California in the last quarter of the 18th century, establishing a strong Hispanic presence. That history continues to shape the rich Hispanic culture in Southern California. At Segerstrom Center for the Arts, longtime supporters Connie and Peter Spenuzza are at the heart of ¡VIVA! Spenuzza Series Celebrating 257 Years of California’s Hispanic Heritage, a special series within the 2026–27 season that will spotlight Hispanic artists and traditions shaping its future. “As sponsors, we want to honor the history of where we live and remind people of our Indigenous and Hispanic culture,” says Connie, a Center board member. “For our family, this is our personal history. My husband’s California lineage dates back to 1820, creating a bridge between the past and present.” Connie herself was born in Ecuador. The ¡VIVA! Spenuzza Series is deeply personal to her. “The series represents stewardship and responsibility,” says Connie. “We are fortunate to be able to support this, and we view it as an opportunity to invest in cultural continuity, artistic excellence, and community enrichment. We celebrate our culture through music, dancing, and storytelling, which makes it a perfect match for the Center.” The Center created the series as an authentic experience at the highest level. The season includes the richness and influence of Hispanic artistry through world-class performances in jazz, dance, Broadway, and family programming on the Center calendar. This is not niche programming but rather part
The Spenuzza family
of the Center’s ongoing commitment to be truly reflective of all communities across the county every season. A special part of the ¡VIVA! Spenuzza Series is the Center’s inaugural artist in residence, Mexican-born jazz musician Arturo O’Farrill. Winner of six GRAMMY® Awards and two Latin GRAMMY Awards, he brings both prestige and educational depth to the series. Other performances in the ¡VIVA! Spenuzza Series will include O’Farrill and his Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra celebrating jazz great Thelonius Monk; a return of Center favorite Ballet Hispánico New York; Arcis Saxophon Quartett; SUGAR SKULL!, part of the Family Series; the Tony®-winning Broadway musical Buena Vista Social ClubTM; and more. “We envision this series will set a benchmark for Latinx performances in Southern California,” says Connie. “The Center has the ability to work with diverse communities and share the heritage we are all part of as residents in Orange County.” *** The Spenuzza family has lived in South Orange County for 40 years. They have two sons and four grandchildren who also live in Orange County. Connie is an award-winning author of 15 books, and Peter is an entrepreneur and CEO. They have travelled extensively, visiting 129 countries so far. Connie is a prominent cultural figure who has received formal proclamations from both Los Angeles and Orange counties for her literary achievements and philanthropic contributions.
Pictured from far left: Arturo O’Farrill; SUGAR SKULL! A Día de Muertos Adventure; Buena Vista Social ClubTM
continued on page 12
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continued from page 11
Connie and Peter began attending performances at the Center in 1990, and became more involved upon the opening of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in 2006. “We love Broadway and dance,” says Connie. The family also enjoys the Family Series for their grandchildren. The couple were major donors to American Ballet Theatre’s (ABT) production of Like Water for Chocolate, something of which Connie is very proud. The full-length ballet based on the best-selling book by Laura Esquival was created by Christopher Wheeldon and Joby Talbot in 2022 as a co-production between The Royal Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. It was given its United States premiere at the Center by ABT in 2023. Connie and Peter have been very active in Orange County arts and educational organizations. They were building donors to the UCI Langson OCMA Museum (on the Segerstrom campus), served on the board of directors 2022–25, and are currently on the advisory board. They have been major donors to Mission San Juan Capistrano Preservation Foundation board of directors since 2006 and were honorees in 2021.
Arturo O’Farrill & Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra September 19, 2026 Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall SUGAR SKULL! A Día de Muertos Adventure September 19–20, 2026 • Samueli Theater
Other organizations benefiting from their generosity include Pacific Symphony, Philharmonic Society of Orange County, St. Margaret’s Episcopal School in San Juan Capistrano, the Discovery Cube, Bowers Museum, and the USC Latino Alumni Association. For almost 50 years the couple have made contributions to food banks and to orphanages in Mexico. “As we celebrate our 40th anniversary and honor the extraordinary legacy built by Henry Segerstrom, we are equally focused on the future, expanding the ways we engage the diverse communities that call Orange County home,” says Casey Reitz, president and CEO of the Center. “Through the generous support of the Spenuzza family, we can bring a wide range of Hispanic and Latino artists and traditions to our stages.” “Our support is driven by a shared belief that reaching and engaging all local communities is not only important, it’s essential to the future of the arts,” says Connie. “We hope the ¡VIVA! Spenuzza Series can serve as a cultural bridge and affirm Segerstrom Center as a leader in presenting programming that is truly reflective of Orange County.”
Rumba para Monk Revisited May 7, 2027 • Samueli Theater Ballet Hispánico New York Don Q: In Pursuit of the Impossible May 15, 2027 • Segerstrom Hall
Arturo O’Farrill: Copacabana Nights February 19, 2027 • Samueli Theater
Arcis Saxophon Quartett March 14, 2027 • Samueli Theater Buena Vista Social ClubTM March 30–April 11, 2027 • Segerstrom Hall
Ballet Hispánico New York
Photo: Marius Fiskium
Ballet Folklórico de México 75th Anniversary Tour February 21, 2027 • Segerstrom Hall
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Photo: Marius Fiskium
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With renowned pianist George Li playing works by Frédéric Chopin, a new season of dance opens with a rapturous full-length ballet by Houston Ballet, making its Center debut. Sons de L’âme (Sounds of the Soul) is rarely performed, and this will be its West Coast premiere. Li will perform Chopin’s timeless music live onstage, while 20 dancers respond. Houston Ballet, hailed by The New York Times as “one of America’s best ballet companies,” is among the country’s leading ballet institutions. We have the famous Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo to thank for the birth of this company. For 11 years beginning in the 1930s, the Ballet Russe spent a week during the Christmas season performing The Nutcracker for Houston audiences. This led patrons to express a growing desire for a resident dance company in their city. Today it is the fifth-largest ballet company in the United States. In 2003 Stanton Welch was appointed its artistic director. The renowned Australian choreographer reenergized the company, recruiting new dancers and commissioning works for the company’s repertoire, of which a number of Welch’s own pieces are included. The company performs works from the mid-20th century and 21st century and takes pride in nurturing the creation of new fulllength narrative ballets, including this piece. Sons de L’âme highlights hypnotic solos, dramatic partnering, and ensemble selections showcasing the skills of the dancers. Chopin defined classical music’s Romantic period in the early- to mid-19th century. The composer was known for his elegant piano works which focus on intensely expressive melodies and rich harmonies. It was obvious
Photo: Sebastien Mathe
Center dance season opens with Houston Ballet debut
even in his lifetime that Chopin understood the piano intimately—while his technical skill was not the highest, his composition surpassed his peers in the way he utilized the piano—and his compositions make use of the numerous ways in which he utilized the instrument. Today Chopin is considered in the pantheon of the greatest composers. George Li, the young celebrated American concert pianist, would agree with that. He is widely acclaimed for his poetic and virtuosic interpretations of Chopin’s music. Praised by the Washington Post for combining “staggering technical prowess, a sense of command, and depth of expression,” Li possesses an effortless grace, poised authority, and brilliant virtuosity far beyond his years. Li gave his first public performance at Boston’s Steinway Hall at the age of 10, and in 2011 performed for President Obama at the White House. He has enjoyed a stellar international career. His reviews reflect his talent. “Li commanded Chopin’s Piano Concerto No.1 from his first chord, skillfully navigating the shifts from virtuosic passages to lyrical,” says the Kansas City Star. “Applause erupted on the final cadence, and the audience was on its feet for a justly impressive display.” The Chicago Tribune says simply, “George Li plays Chopin brilliantly.” This is a stunning production with which to start your dance season. Segerstrom Hall October 15–18
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ALEXANDER SHELLEY ARTISTIC & MUSIC DIRECTOR One of the foremost conductors of his generation, Alexander Shelley is “a natural communicator, both on and off the podium” (The Daily Telegraph), appearing regularly across six continents with the world’s finest orchestras and soloists. A passionate and articulate advocate for the role of music in society, Shelley has spearheaded multiple award-winning and groundbreaking projects, unlocking creativity in the next generation and bringing symphonic music to new audiences. With a conducting technique described as “immaculate, everything crystal clear” (Yorkshire Post), and with a “precision, distinction and beauty of gesture not seen since Lorin Maazel” (Le Devoir), Shelley is known for the integrity of his interpretations and for his creative programming. He has led over 50 major world premieres, highly praised cycles of Beethoven, Schumann, and Brahms symphonies, operas, ballets, and innovative multimedia productions. He is admired in the industry for bringing the best possible sound out of orchestras. Shelley regularly collaborates with internationally renowned soloists, including Emanuel Ax, Joshua Bell, Renée Fleming, Hilary Hahn, James Ehnes, Daniel Hope, Lang Lang, and, Daniil Trifonov. He is a regular guest with major orchestras of Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Australasia, including Leipzig’s Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande; the Helsinki, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Malaysian, Oslo, Rotterdam, and Stockholm philharmonic orchestras; and the São Paulo, Houston, Seattle, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Montreal, Toronto, Munich, Singapore, Melbourne, Sydney, and New Zealand symphony orchestras. As an Artistic and Music Director, Shelley is known for bold programming rooted in collaboration, creation, and innovation. In 2026–27, he leads Pacific Symphony in Southern California into a thrilling new era as its Artistic and Music Director. Additionally, this season marks Shelley’s first full season as Principal Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra Ireland (NSOI). Since 2024, he has also served as the Artistic and Music Director of Artis–Naples, in Florida, where he provides artistic leadership for the Naples Philharmonic and the wider multidisciplinary arts organization. Across each ensemble, Shelley is committed to presenting music as a complete artistic experience. With Pacific Symphony and Artis–Naples, he leads two complete cycles of Beethoven’s symphonies, inviting audiences into a deeper engagement with the composer’s creative vision.
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Shelley also champions the creation of new works by contemporary composers. In 2026, with Artis–Naples and in 2027 with Pacific Symphony, he premieres the orchestral version of African Queens, which brings together arias composed by each member of the “Blacknificent 7” collective of living Black contemporary composers: Jasmine Barnes, Damien Geter, Jessie Montgomery, Shawn Okpebholo, Dave Ragland, Carlos Simon, and Joel Thompson, co-commissioned by the Naples Philharmonic and Pacific Symphony. With NSOI, Shelley will offer the world premiere of Porcelain by Northern Irish composer Amelia Clarkson in addition to two Irish premieres of works by Anna Clyne and Kati Agócs. During 2026–27, Shelley makes his debut with the Gstaad Festival Orchestra in Switzerland as a part of the Menuhin Festival’s 70th season. He also returns as a guest conductor with the Seattle Symphony, performing Cusson’s 1Q84 alongside works by Sibelius and Rachmaninoff with pianist Benjamin Grosvenor. Shelley served for 11 years as the Music Director of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra (NACO) and—assuming the role at age 35—was the youngest-ever director in its history. During his tenure with NACO, the ensemble was praised as “an orchestra transformed…hungry, bold, and unleashed” (Ottawa Citizen). His programming is credited for turning the ensemble “almost overnight… into one of the more audacious orchestras in North America” (Maclean’s). Through his leadership, NACO championed Canadian creation through its major tours, critically acclaimed recordings, and the commissioning of more than 50 new works by Canadian composers. His work reflected the fabric and values of Canada, engaging communities from coast to coast through inclusive programming, compelling storytelling, and visionary partnerships. Shelley also served as Principal Associate Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra from 2015–2026, touring both nationally and internationally with the ensemble, while also curating a series at London’s Cadogan Hall. As a conductor of opera, he has led productions with the Royal Danish Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, and Opéra National de Montpellier. His eight-year tenure as Chief Conductor of the Nürnberger Symphoniker concluded in 2017, a period that was hailed as a golden era for the orchestra. Born in London to celebrated concert pianists, Shelley studied cello and conducting in Germany and gained widespread attention when he was unanimously awarded first prize at the 2005 Leeds Conductors Competition, with the press describing him as “the most exciting and gifted young conductor to have taken this highly prestigious award.”
Pacific Symphony 2026-27 Season
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WELCOME TO THE 2026-27 SEASON Dear Pacific Symphony Patrons, Welcome to Pacific Symphony’s 2026–27 season. We are delighted to share a year that celebrates the full breadth of Pacific Symphony, from monumental classical works and star-powered Pops concerts to family experiences and intimate chamber music. At the center of this season is a historic new beginning. For the first time in 36 years, Pacific Symphony welcomes a new artistic leader as Alexander Shelley begins his inaugural year as Artistic & Music Director and holder of the Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons Artistic and Music Director Chair. Known internationally for his imaginative programming, impeccable musicianship and gift for communication, Alexander brings a spirit of curiosity and discovery grounded in his belief that music can strengthen community and bring people together. His vision comes vividly to life in the Classical Series. Grammy® Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell joins Alexander for Lalo’s dazzling Symphonie espagnole, followed by Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection,” with Pacific Chorale, soprano Miah Persson, and mezzosoprano Dame Sarah Connolly. These programs also celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and the 40th anniversary of Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The Classical Series continues with a two-week Beethoven Revolution Festival presenting all nine symphonies in chronological order; John Adams’ opera Nixon in China; and programs featuring John Williams, Holst’s The Planets, and Gershwin’s An American in Paris. Extraordinary artists, including Emanuel Ax, Nobuyuki Tsujii, and Joyce Yang, add even more brilliance to this ambitious inaugural season. We are equally delighted to welcome Enrico Lopez-Yañez back as Principal Pops Conductor and the holder of the Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation Principal Pops Conductor Chair. Enrico has created a Pops season filled with unforgettable entertainment, from Broadway powerhouse Idina Menzel, Cody Fry, and Pink Martini All-Stars to the music of James Bond, iconic science fiction scores, and Chicago: The Musical in Concert. We also warmly welcome Moon Doh as Pacific Symphony’s new Assistant Conductor and Music Director of Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra and the holder of the Mary E. Moore Family Assistant Conductor Chair. He joins us as Family Musical Mornings invites young audiences to discover the joy of live orchestral music through Symphony Spooktacular, The Nutcracker for Kids, Pixar in Concert, and The Little Prince: Opera for Kids. These engaging concerts create lasting family memories while beginning what we hope will become a lifelong love of music. For those who enjoy music in a more intimate setting, we are delighted to welcome back pianist, host, and curator Orli Shaham for Cafe Ludwig.
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Joined by principal musicians of Pacific Symphony, Orli guides audiences through chamber music by American, European, and Latin composers while guests enjoy coffee and dessert in the welcoming atmosphere of Samueli Theater. At the heart of every performance, across every series and every stage, are the brilliant musicians of Pacific Symphony. Their artistry transforms every score into something shared, immediate, and alive. We can offer these extraordinary experiences only because of you. Your generous gifts to the Annual Fund and your volunteer spirit allow us to plan ambitiously, take artistic risks, and bring inspiring music to our community. Ticket revenue covers less than 40% of the cost of these performances. Your support makes up the difference, helping ensure that Pacific Symphony can continue bringing extraordinary music to our community, both on stage and beyond. Our subscribers are the bedrock of Pacific Symphony. Their commitment gives us the confidence to build seasons with artistic purpose and ensures that this music can thrive year after year. If you have not yet subscribed, we invite you to join us for the full journey. For patrons seeking greater flexibility, we are excited to introduce Symphony Pass, a new monthly membership designed for busy people who love live music but have unpredictable schedules. With access to more than 60 concerts throughout the year, it offers the freedom to choose what you want to hear and attend when your schedule allows. Think of it as a streaming pass for live music. Finally, we offer our deepest gratitude to the Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation for its visionary support of our Classical Series and to the entire Segerstrom family for its enduring commitment to Pacific Symphony. Their generosity has helped create the artistic home and thriving cultural community we celebrate throughout this season as we touch the lives of thousands of adults and children throughout Orange County. Cheers to Alexander’s inaugural year, to new voices and beloved traditions, and to the pleasure of experiencing this remarkable season together. With gratitude and excitement,
Mark Nielsen Chairman Board of Directors
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John Forsyte President and Chief Executive Officer
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BEFORE THE FIRST NOTE Every journey begins before the first step. For music, it begins before the first note. There is a moment of anticipation. A shared breath. A quiet understanding that, when we gather together, something extraordinary may happen. It’s with that spirit that I welcome you to Pacific Symphony's 2026–27 season, and to my first as your Artistic and Music Director. To begin this journey with Pacific Symphony is both a privilege and a profound responsibility. I am deeply grateful to share this inaugural season with a community whose passion for music, curiosity, and generosity have long defined this remarkable orchestra. This is more than the opening of a season. It’s an invitation to discover, together, where music can take us. Over the months ahead, we will journey through music that spans centuries, cultures, and traditions. We will celebrate America's 250th anniversary by exploring the many voices that have shaped its rich musical story, while embarking on a festival devoted to Beethoven, whose vision of humanity, resilience, and hope continues to inspire us nearly two centuries later. What excites me most isn’t simply the opportunity to perform these extraordinary works. It’s the opportunity to experience them with you. Music has a remarkable way of bringing people together. It invites us to listen with open minds, to imagine new possibilities, and to find connection in places we least expect. Every concert offers a new conversation. Every performance becomes a meeting place for ideas, emotions, and shared humanity. I can think of no finer way to begin this season than with the extraordinary Joshua Bell, whose artistry reflects both virtuosity and generosity of spirit. His performance opens a season filled with cherished masterworks, bold discoveries, exceptional guest artists, and moments that I hope will remain with you long after the final applause. Whether you have been part of the Pacific Symphony family for many years or are joining us for the very first time, thank you for being here. Your presence transforms music from something performed into something shared. I invite you to join us with curiosity, with open hearts, and with the excitement of discovering what lies ahead. I look forward to sharing this journey with you.
Alexander Shelley Artistic & Music Director
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PACIFIC SYMPHONY Founded in 1978, Pacific Symphony welcomes Alexander Shelley for his inaugural season as Artistic & Music Director in 2026-27, building on nearly five decades of artistic growth, innovation, and community impact. His inaugural season reflects an ambitious artistic vision that blends core symphonic masterworks, contemporary voices, multidisciplinary collaboration, and a commitment to expanding access to orchestral music. Today, Pacific Symphony is recognized as a major cultural force in Southern California and performs as a resident company of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa.
and a PBS Great Performances broadcast of Peter Boyer’s Ellis Island: The Dream of America. Pacific Symphony has released 16 commercial recordings, primarily devoted to new American works, many of them commissioned by the Symphony. In 2024, Pacific Symphony released the world-premiere recording of Fiat Lux, a stirring new commission by composer Sir James MacMillan performed with long-time artistic partner Pacific Chorale. The Symphony has been recognized with multiple ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming and included among the country’s five most innovative orchestras by the League of American Orchestras.
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 Live Amphitheater in Irvine, and engaging Family Musical Mornings concerts for young children and their families. Signature cultural concerts for Lunar New Year and Nowruz are joyful musical celebrations that promote understanding and appreciation of the arts from around the world. The Symphony in the Cities and Symphony on the Go programs bring free outdoor concerts and interactive musical activities to cities across Orange County.
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. Musicians partner with elementary schools to enhance music education programs through the Frieda Belinfante Class Act program. Arts-X-press is a summer arts immersion program for middle school students, and Heartstrings provides free tickets to the Symphony, music instruction, and customized music and wellness programs in partnership with local schools, nonprofits, and social service agencies.
As the largest orchestral institution founded in the United States in the past half century, Pacific Symphony has evolved from a regional orchestra into one of the nation’s leading cultural institutions. Under the transformative 35year leadership of Music Director Laureate Carl St.Clair, the Symphony has earned international and national recognition for its exceptional performances, commitment to American composers, award-winning music education programs, and meaningful community engagement.
Pacific Symphony also nurtures the next generation of musicians through its renowned youth ensembles, including 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.
Recent highlights include a 2018 Carnegie Hall debut in celebration of composer Philip Glass; a five-city tour of China;
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Through artistic excellence and a deep commitment to community engagement, Pacific Symphony continues to shape the cultural life of Southern California while expanding the reach and relevance of symphonic music for future generations.
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MEET THE ORCHESTRA Alexander Shelley / Artistic & Music Director Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons Artistic & Music Director Chair Carl St.Clair / Music Director Laureate St.Clair Chair Enrico Lopez-Yañez / Principal Pops Conductor Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation Principal Pops Conductor Chair Richard Kaufman / Principal Pops Conductor Laureate Moon Doh / Assistant Conductor Mary E. Moore Family Assistant Conductor Chair FIRST VIOLIN
CELLO
BASSOON
Dennis Kim
Warren Hagerty*
Vacant* Elliott Moreau Andrew Klein Allen Savedoff 40
Concertmaster Eleanor and Michael Gordon Chair
Yoomin Seo
Associate Concertmaster Judy and Wes Whitmore Chair
Jeanne Skrocki
Assistant Concertmaster Arlene and Seymour Grubman Chair
Michael Siess Christine Frank Ayako Sugaya Ann Shiau Tenney Joanna Lee + Robert Schumitzky 40 Agnes Gottschewski Dana Freeman Julie Ahn Paul Manaster
Catherine and James Emmi Chair
Ben Lash** Evan Nicholson Robert Vos László Mező Ian McKinnell M. Andrew Honea Rudolph Stein Emma Lee Xi Yang BASS
CONTRABASSOON
Allen Savedoff FRENCH HORN
Keith Popejoy* Adedeji Ogunfolu Kaylet Torrez** + Henry Bond TRUMPET
SECOND VIOLIN
Richard Cassarino* Douglas Basye** Christian Kollgaard 40 David Parmeter Andrew Chilcote David Black Andrew Bumatay
Madalyn Parnas Möller*
FLUTE
Hiram Rodriguez* David Stetson Griffin Cutaiar
Benjamin Smolen* 15
TUBA
Elizabeth and John Stahr Chair
Jennise Hwang**
Ruth Ann and John Evans Chair
Yen Ping Lai Yu-Tong Sharp Ako Kojian Linda Owen Sooah Kim MarlaJoy Weisshaar Alice Miller-Wrate Shelly Shi
Sharon O’Connor Cynthia Ellis PICCOLO
Cynthia Ellis OBOE
Jessica Pearlman Fields*
Suzanne R. Chonette Chair
Ted Sugata
VIOLA
Susie and Steve Perry Chair
Tony Ellis
TROMBONE
Benjamin Vargas* TIMPANI
Will Howald* PERCUSSION
Robert A. Slack* HARP
Vacant* Michelle Temple
The Sungaila Family Chair
ENGLISH HORN
Meredith Crawford* Leona Aronoff-Sadacca Chair
Victor de Almeida** Carolyn Riley 30 John Acevedo 40 Hanbyul Jang Julia Staudhammer Joseph Wen-Xiang Zhang Cheryl Gates Phillip Triggs
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Valerie and Hans Imhof Chair
Barry Perkins*
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Lelie Resnick CLARINET
Vacant*
The Hanson Family Foundation Chair
David Chang
Charlie and Ling Zhang Chair
BASS CLARINET
Joshua Ranz
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* Principal ** Assistant Principal + On Leave Celebrating milestone years with Pacific Symphony this season.
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The musicians of Pacific Symphony are members of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 7.
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VIOLIN VIRTUOSO JOSHUA BELL & ALEXANDER SHELLEY Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026 @ 8 p.m. Alexander Shelley, conductor Joshua Bell, violin Pacific Symphony JESSIE MONTGOMERY
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Symphonie espagnole, Op.21 LALO Allegro non troppo Scherzando: Allegro molto Intermezzo: Allegretto non troppo Andante Rondo Joshua Bell, violin "Earth" from The Elements KEVIN PUTS Joshua Bell, violin —INTERMISSION— BERNSTEIN
Overture to Candide
JOAN TOWER
Sixth Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman
FLORENCE PRICE
Andante Moderato for string orchestra
KORNGOLD
Kings Row Suite
BARTÓK Romanian Folk Dances Jocul cu bâta (Stick Dance) Brâul (Waistband Dance) Pe loc (Stamping Dance, or On the Spot) Buciumeana (Hornpipe Dance) Poarga româneasca (Rumanian Polka) Maruntel (Quick Dance) GERSHWIN Arr. Don Rose
Overture to Girl Crazy
Management for Joshua Bell: Park Avenue Artists Booking for Joshua Bell: Primo Artists Thank you to our generous concert underwriters Judy & Wes Whitmore Performance at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.
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ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jessie Montgomery
Joshua Bell, violin With a career spanning almost four decades, GRAMMY® Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell CBE is one of the most celebrated artists of our time. He has performed with virtually every major orchestra in the world, and regularly appears as a soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, conductor, and as the Music Director of London’s Academy of St Martin in the Fields (ASMF). In 2025, he was awarded an honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services to Music. Bell continues to champion the rediscovered Violin Concerto by Thomas de Hartmann in the 2025-26 season, following his world premiere recording of the work. He gives its UK premiere at London’s BBC Proms, its North American premiere with the New York Philharmonic, and its Canadian premiere during his season-long tenure as a Toronto Symphony Spotlight Artist. With ASMF, he leads extensive tours, including returns to Vienna Konzerthaus and Carnegie Hall. Other highlights include his first appearances as Principal Guest Conductor of the New Jersey Symphony; an Asian tour with Hamburg’s NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra; trio programs with Steven Isserlis and Evgeny Kissin in the U.S. and Europe; and duo recitals with Jeremy Denk at Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Ravinia Festival. In 2011, Bell succeeded founder Sir Neville Marriner as Music Director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. He is also the Founder and Music Director of Chamber Orchestra of America (COA), which aims to empower the next generation of artists. Bell has commissioned and premiered works by John Corigliano, Edgar Meyer, and Nicholas Maw. His recording of Maw’s Violin Concerto won a GRAMMY® Award, and his work on the film soundtrack for The Red Violin helped secure Corigliano’s Academy Award. Bell’s collaborators include Emanuel Ax, Chris Botti, Chick Corea, Renée Fleming, Josh Groban, Lang Lang, Dave Matthews, Anoushka Shankar, Regina Spektor, Sting, and Daniil Trifonov. He has made three guest appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and numerous appearances on the Amazon series Mozart in the Jungle. His extensive discography has been recognized with GRAMMY®, Mercury, Gramophone, and Opus Klassik awards. Born in Bloomington, Indiana, Bell began playing the violin at age four, starting studies with his mentor, Josef Gingold, eight years later. At 14, Bell debuted with Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra, and at 17 he made his Carnegie Hall debut with the St. Louis Symphony. He signed with his first label, London Decca, at 18, when he also received the Avery Fisher Career Grant. Since then, Bell has been nominated for six GRAMMY® Awards, named “Instrumentalist of the Year” by Musical America, selected as a “Young Global Leader” by the World Economic Forum, and recognized with the Avery Fisher Prize. He received the 2003 Indiana Governor’s Arts Award and, in 2000, was honored as an “Indiana Living Legend.” Bell has performed for three American presidents and the justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. After participating in former president Barack Obama’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities’ first cultural mission to Cuba, he headlined the subsequent Emmynominated PBS Live from Lincoln Center special. Bell performs on the 1713 Huberman Stradivarius violin. PACIFICSYMPHONY.ORG
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Born: Dec. 8, 1981 in New York City, New York
Banner Jessie Montgomery is an acclaimed composer, violinist, and educator. Her music interweaves classical music with vernacular music, improvisation, language, and social justice, placing her among the most relevant interpreters of 21st-century American sound and experience. Banner was commissioned by the Joyce Foundation and the Sphinx Organization to commemorate the bicentennial of Francis Scott Key’s 1814 text for “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Originally scored for solo string quartet and string orchestra in 2014, Montgomery expanded it for chamber orchestra in 2017. She calls the work a rhapsody on the national anthem and asks, “What does an anthem for the 21st century sound like in today’s multicultural environment?” Drawing on “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and other patriotic songs, she answers through collage rather than declaration. The result is less a celebration of a fixed symbol than an argument carried out in sound. The solo string quartet becomes an individual voice, at times joining and at times resisting the larger community of the orchestra. Marching-band strains and drum-line rhythms collide with broad brass sonorities until familiar material feels unsettled and newly alive. Banner offers no single answer to what an American anthem should be; it makes the act of listening part of the question.
Edouard Lalo Born: Jan. 27, 1823 in Lille, France Died: April 22, 1892 in Paris, France
Symphonie espagnole, Op. 21 It is not a symphony, nor is it Spanish. The Symphonie espagnole is a fabulously abundant violin showcase—non-stop fun to hear and, if you happen to be a prodigiously skilled violin virtuoso, a joy to play. Its Spanish-inspired melodies challenge the soloist to dig into the strings or skip fleetly over them by turns. So is it a concerto? With five movements and no cadenzas, not really — although it has won a place alongside the most popular violin concertos. Edouard Lalo, the composer of this glorious anomaly, was born in 1823 in Lille, a city in the northern reaches of France. A gifted string player, he studied at the Paris Conservatory. In 1865 he married the French contralto Julie Besnier de Maligny, who piqued his interest in opera. But Lalo's forward-looking music dramas were perhaps too advanced for their time, and certainly—with their Wagnerian influence—insufficiently Gallic for the French taste. None but Le roi d'Ys is still performed. But his excellent Cello Concerto in D minor and the beloved Symphonie espagnole have earned Lalo a cherished spot in the string repertory. The Symphonie espagnole may well be a window onto the playing of one of the great violin virtuosi of all time, Pablo de Sarasate, whose playing inspired Lalo. Sarasate, a Spaniard, performed with passion and elegance, projecting a style not quite so Mephistophelian as Paganini's; his fingers seemed to dance over the strings with a fleetness especially suited to the Symphonie, which he introduced in 1875. When the Symphonie's melodies begin in darkness they quickly brighten, and its dancing rhythms—especially in the final movement, with its foot-stamping vamp—may well have inspired the many French compositions on Spanish themes that came after it. In composing his own violin concerto, Tchaikovsky was energized by the abundance of melody and structural freedom of the Symphonie espagnole.
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Leonard Bernstein Born: Aug. 25, 1918 in Lawrence, Massachusetts Died: Oct. 14, 1990 in New York City, New York
Overture to Candide The myths surrounding Leonard Bernstein's Candide have more to do with its rarity than its merits. With an abundance of glorious music, hilariously satirical scenes, and a book and lyrics by some of the greatest literary talents of its day (including the playwright Lillian Hellmann and the poet Richard Wilbur), why don't we get to hear this 1956 work more often? That question is not easy to answer; but then, the work itself is not easy to perform. Variously called a musical, an operetta, and an opera, it is prodigiously demanding—perhaps most famously in "Glitter and Be Gay," a parody of a coloratura aria that is full of extravagant vocal pyrotechnics capped off by a high E-flat. We hear that famous theme from "Glitter and Be Gay" in this gleeful curtain-raiser that seems not just to rollick but to careen, reflecting the work's don't-worry, be-happy, best of all possible worlds. The tune seems to laugh and sing at the same time, yet it also sounds dangerously out of control—brilliantly theatrical music that was happily rediscovered when Dick Cavett chose it as the theme song for his talk show. No overture to a Broadway work is more frequently performed in the concert hall.
Kevin Puts Born: Jan. 3, 1972 in St. Louis, Missouri
“Earth” from The Elements The esteemed, Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer Kevin Puts has established himself as one of America’s leading composers, gaining international acclaim for his “plush, propulsive” music (The New York Times). On his website, Puts describes Earth as “my contribution to the ‘Elements’ project, a suite involving five composers which was commissioned by Joshua Bell and premiered in August 2023. The piece begins on solid ground, with a repeating four-note ostinato over which the solo violin and the orchestral violins trade lyrical phrases. This opening idea was drawn from my Violin Concerto (2006) but takes a different journey here, eventually 'taking flight' for a brief period. Beyond the fundamental sense of stability and endurance the element earth suggested to me, I hope the music also conveys a more spiritual reverence for the planet Earth itself.”
Tower completed her undergraduate studies at Bennington College and earned a doctorate in composition from Columbia University, a bastion of academic serialism, and modernism. Mastering the rigors of this approach to composition gave Tower a strong foundation for developing a deeply personal style. In the 1970s and 1980s, Tower wrote many pieces for the Da Capo Chamber Players. In their sound and even in their titles, we can see a legacy from her father, who was a mineralogist. Tower explores subjects inspired by nature and finds in them contrasts between soft and hard textures, large and small scales, calmness and forcefulness. We hear these juxtapositions in the poetic tension she creates among instrumental textures, loud and soft passages and complex, energetic rhythms. Tower’s Fanfares for the Uncommon Woman comprise a series of six short compositions that together span approximately 25 minutes. Instrumentation is critical. Parts I and II are scored for brass and percussion, reminiscent of Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, with Part II augmenting the percussion forces. Part III is written for double brass quintet, Part IV for full orchestra and Part V for four trumpets. The sixth began as a solo piano composition before Tower expanded it for full orchestra. The fanfares are among the most popular modern compositions. Written in tribute to women who take risks and pursue adventurous paths, they have been performed by more than 600 ensembles worldwide. Tower composed the Sixth Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman for solo piano in 2014 and later created the full orchestral version heard in this performance. Marin Alsop conducted its premiere with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 2016 in celebration of the orchestra’s centennial season. Dedicated to composer Tania León, the work retains the energetic rhythms and bold contrasts associated with the series while drawing upon the colors and power of the full orchestra. Persistent eighth-note patterns, glissandos, changing meters and vivid instrumental combinations propel the music toward a forceful, triumphant conclusion.
Florence Price Born: April 9, 1887 in Little Rock, Arkansas Died: June 3, 1953 in Chicago, Illinois
Joan Tower
Andante Moderato
Born: Sept. 6, 1938 in New Rochelle, New York
Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Florence Price had a childhood that might have resembled that of any European musical prodigy— except that she was American, Black, and female. When no one in town would accept her for early music instruction, her mother gave her lessons. She graduated high school when she was 14 as valedictorian of her class. For advanced musical study, there was only one possible choice: the New England Conservatory, where she enrolled in 1904 and distinguished herself, earning diplomas in organ studies and education.
Sixth Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman Many of the most important, popular and influential composers on today’s classical music scene are women, among them Joan Tower. With compositions such as her six-movement suite Fanfares for the Uncommon Woman she has confronted cultural attitudes about gender through her music—one subject among many in a career that has transcended classification. The emphatic sixth movement both completes the thematic development of the entire suite and stands as a dramatic fanfare on its own. Vigorous and eclectic, Joan Tower’s distinctive musical style reflects both her talent and the remarkable circumstances of her life. Born in New Rochelle, New York, she moved to Bolivia with her family when she was nine years old. There, the complex, dynamic rhythms of Bolivian music became part of her life, one reason rhythm would P8
later become such an important element in her work. Aware of his daughter’s early musical talent, Tower’s father insisted that she receive musical training, especially in piano. Her mastery of the keyboard enabled her to begin her career as a pianist, including as a co-founder and member of the Da Capo Chamber Players.
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Returning to the South, Price became head of the music department in what is now Clark Atlanta University, then resettled in Little Rock. But when racial violence there prompted her to join the Great Migration northward, she settled in Chicago, where she studied composition with the leading pedagogues in the Midwest and became active as a composer. Her career was, and remains, a perplexing combination of creative achievement and public neglect. In the music world, she was acclaimed, becoming the first
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African American woman to have a major work performed by a major American orchestra (her first symphony, premiered by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra). But accomplishment did not bring wider recognition or financial security, and to cover expenses she accompanied silent film screenings and composed advertising jingles. Today her wonderful songs and orchestral pieces are being rediscovered. This Andante Moderato is the second movement of Price’s 1929 String Quartet in G Major. The emotion in this section runs deep, combining late-Romantic harmonic traditions with the expressive, pentatonic melodies of African American spirituals. It is often performed by string orchestras as a stand-alone work.
Erich Wolfgang Korngold Born: May 29, 1897 in Brünn, Austria-Hungary (now Brno, Czech Republic) Died: Nov. 29, 1957 in Los Angeles, California
Kings Row Suite Erich Wolfgang Korngold is widely known as a “famous composer,” but just how famous—and why—depends upon whom you ask. Musicologists regard him as one of the most remarkable prodigies in the history of classical music, the boy wonder who at age nine was declared a genius by Gustav Mahler. Mahler secured him a position studying with the eminent pedagogue and composer Alexander Zemlinsky, who had also taught Schoenberg, the leader of the revolutionary “Second Viennese School” that also included Alban Berg; while his colleagues looked to Schoenberg as the movement’s father, Schoenberg looked to Zemlinsky. Aficionados of Hollywood film music, who know the name Korngold well, are sometimes unaware that the wunderkind who created a sensation in European classical music circles just before and after World War I is the same person who became famous here for his film scores. The late opera director Bliss Hebert, who was an expert on Korngold and directed American productions of his operas, credited him with virtually inventing the feature film score in swashbucklers such as The Adventures of Robin Hood and making the career of matinee idol Errol Flynn. But in the King’s Row Suite we hear something different: more introspective music based on an intense psychological drama. The source material spans a heroic opening and layered, interior passages based on internal struggle, the search for meaning, and the search for a place in American life. Kings Row was daring for its time, and afforded Korngold a chance to explore deep, layered emotion. Korngold’s Hollywood connection quite literally saved his life. The year of his relocation to California was also the year of Hitler’s Anschluss and Kristallnacht, which plunged Europe into nightmare. Even as he was adjusting to his luxurious California lifestyle and discovering an appreciative new audience, it was clear that he could not return to his homeland.
Béla Bartók Born: March 25, 1881 in Nagyszentmiklós, Austria-Hungary (now Sânnicolau Mare, Romania) Died: Sept. 26, 1945 in New York City, New York
After his father's death the family relocated to the city now known as Bratislava, where Béla's schoolmates included the fellow composer Ernö (Ernst von) Dohnányi. While the basic facts of Bartók's biography look similar to those of his friend and colleague Zoltán Kodály, his extraordinary gifts as a composer and musical innovator put him on another level of music history. During his lifetime, even as his challengingly modern compositions were going unheard, conductors and fellow musicians sensed the urgency of bringing his extraordinary talents before the public. His own piano concertos were the ideal vehicle; as the musicologist Phillip Huscher notes, Bartók's formidable skills as a pianist would have made him a major figure in 20th-century music even if he had not gone on to a more brilliant career as a composer. Highly concentrated and full of movement, the six movements of the Romanian Folk Dances scarcely last five minutes from beginning to end. Bartók composed this suite in 1915 and orchestrated it in 1917, basing the dances on folksongs and folk dances he encountered in earlier fieldwork; we can easily imagine the energetic stepping and the shepherd's flute, fiddle and bagpipe in both versions. The first movement, a "bot tánc," is traditionally performed with sticks, and in the second is a "braul," or sashdance, in which the dancers incorporate into their choreography the wide, colorful sashes worn around their waists. In the third movement, generally translated as "in one spot" or "on the spot," dancers step lively without moving from the spot where they stand, much like some clogging or step dancing.
George Gershwin Born: Sept. 26, 1898 in Brooklyn, New York Died: July 11, 1937 in Los Angeles, California
Overture to Girl Crazy It's not always easy to draw the line between America's classical and popular music traditions. But in the case of George Gershwin, that line disappears. George and his lyricist- brother Ira, who collaborated on a string of scintillating Broadway musicals including Girl Crazy, were born two years apart. They possessed the ideal combination of talent and temperament to become one of the greatest songwriting duos in history—a team whose success on Tin Pan Alley and in musical theater made them synonymous with the sounds and style of the Jazz Age. Yet George is also acknowledged as one of the seminal talents in America's classical heritage, whose works such as the Piano Concerto in F and opera Porgy and Bess are among the most enduringly popular in the standard repertory. What were the odds that Ira Gershwin, born a scant two years earlier than George, would prove to be a lyricist of genius? Ira's sensitivity and precision in matching words to music raised the art of the song lyric in shows and popular hits generally, and was perfectly attuned to George's gifts as a composer. Girl Crazy opened in October 1930 at the Alvin Theatre and ran for 272 performances—a more than respectable run in those days. The overture previews some of Gershwin’s most memorable Broadway melodies, including “But Not for Me” and “I Got Rhythm”—introduced by Ethel Merman, whose rendition stopped the show night after night.
Romanian Folk Dances Born in 1881, Béla Bartók is often credited as one of the founders of modern ethnomusicology as well as a seminal modernist. Like György Ligeti, he was ethnically Hungarian but hailed from a region that now forms part of Romania, where his father was head of an agricultural college and his mother was a teacher. Both were able musicians, and Béla's mother gave him his first piano lessons. PACIFICSYMPHONY.ORG
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Michael Clive is a cultural reporter living in the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut. He is program annotator for Pacific Symphony and has written numerous articles for magazines and newspapers in the U.S. and U.K. and hundreds of program notes for orchestras and opera companies. Operahound.com
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2026-27 Hal & Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation Classical Series
SHELLEY CONDUCTS MAHLER 2: RESURRECTION Preview Talk at 7 p.m. Classical California midday host Alan Chapman Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026 @ 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, 2026 @ 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026 @ 8 p.m. Alexander Shelley, conductor Miah Persson, soprano Dame Sarah Connolly, mezzo-soprano Pacific Chorale—Robert Istad, artistic director Pacific Symphony Symphony No. 2 in C Minor (Resurrection) Allegro maestoso Andante moderato In ruhig fliessender Bewegung Urlicht (Primeval Light) Im Tempo des Scherzo Miah Persson, soprano Sarah Connolly, mezzo-soprano Pacific Chorale MAHLER
THIS CONCERT IS PERFORMED WITHOUT INTERMISSION
This concert is being recorded for broadcast at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, 2027, as part of SoCal Saturday Night on Classical California. This concert is part of the Ahmanson Faith & Transcendence Series. Performance at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.
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ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Dame Sarah Connolly, mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly was made a DBE in the 2017 Birthday Honours, having previously been awarded a CBE in the 2010 New Year Honours. In 2020, she was made an honorary member of the Royal Philharmonic Society in recognition of her outstanding service to music.
Miah Persson, soprano Since making her operatic debut as Susanna in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro in 1998, Swedish soprano Miah Persson has distinguished herself as one of the world’s leading interpreters of Mozart, celebrated for such roles as Zerlina and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, and the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro. She has also “cemented her place as one of the most intelligent Strauss sopranos of our time” (Bachtrack), following notable role debuts as the Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier and the Countess in Capriccio. Persson has appeared at the Metropolitan Opera; the Royal Ballet and Opera, Covent Garden; Teatro alla Scala; the Vienna State Opera; the Paris Opera; the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona; the Bavarian State Opera; the Hamburg State Opera; the Semperoper Dresden; the Netherlands Opera; the New National Theatre, Tokyo; and the Dallas Opera. On the concert platform, she has performed with major international orchestras and conductors, including Zubin Mehta, Bernard Labadie, Simone Young, and Vladimir Jurowski. Her recital appearances include London’s Wigmore Hall, the Vienna Konzerthaus, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Pierre Boulez Saal, Spivey Hall, the Schubert Club in St. Paul, Cal Performances in Berkeley, Vancouver Playhouse, and New York’s Carnegie Hall. Persson’s 2025–26 season opened with performances as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with the Budapest Festival Orchestra under Iván Fischer at Müpa Budapest and on tour at Vicenza’s Teatro Olimpico and the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden. Other season highlights included Mahler’s Das klagende Lied with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra under Ryan Bancroft, a program of Haydn and Berlioz with the Gävle Symphony Orchestra under Magnus Fryk, Mozart’s Mass in C Minor with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra under Matthew Halls, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 under Alexander Shelley with both the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra in Florida and the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa.
In 2023, she received the King’s Medal for Music, awarded annually to an outstanding individual or group of musicians who has had a major influence on the musical life of the nation. She has appeared at the Aldeburgh, Edinburgh, Lucerne, Salzburg, and Tanglewood festivals and at the BBC Proms, where she was a soloist at the Last Night in 2009. Her opera engagements have taken her around the world, from the Metropolitan Opera and the Royal Opera House to the Paris Opera, La Scala in Milan, the Vienna and Munich state operas, and the Bayreuth, Glyndebourne, and Aix-en-Provence festivals. Highlights of her 2025–26 season included Jocasta in Oedipus Rex for the Norwegian Opera & Ballet and Mrs. Patrick De Rocher in Dead Man Walking for English National Opera. On the concert platform, she sings Handel’s Messiah with the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra under Christophe Rousset; Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius with the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra under Matthew Halls; Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra under Alexander Shelley and the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra under Joshua Weilerstein; Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder with the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra under Joel Sandelson; and Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen.
In addition, she gave a New Year’s concert with the Swedish Chamber Orchestra under Andreas Hansson, performed Strauss’s orchestrated songs with the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra under Ramón Tébar, and sang Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 in Bochum and at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam with the Bochum Symphony Orchestra under Tung-Chieh Chuang. She appeared in recital at the Leeds Lieder Festival and London’s Wigmore Hall with pianist Joseph Middleton and for San Francisco Performances with pianist Magnus Svensson. In 2011, Persson was appointed Hovsångerska (court singer) by His Majesty the King of Sweden. Miah Persson is represented by Intermusica.
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PACIFIC CHORALE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Robert Istad, conductor/artistic director e
A GRAMMY® Award-winning conductor who “fashions fluent and sumptuous readings” (Voice of OC) with his “phenomenal” artistry (Los Angeles Times), Istad was appointed Pacific Chorale’s Artistic Director in 2017.
The 2026-27 season celebrates 10 years under his leadership, continuing to expand the choir’s reputation for excellence in 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 LA Phil conducted by Gustavo Dudamel on Deutsche Grammophon (2021), for which he prepared the chorus.
Additionally, Istad conducted the Pacific Chorale’s recording All Things Common: The Music of Tarik O’Regan released on Yarlung Records (2020). He regularly conducts and collaborates with Pacific Symphony, Berkshire Choral International, and Yarlung Records. His extensive credits also include recording for Sony Classical and guest conducting Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, Bach Collegium San Diego, Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra, Bath Philharmonia, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Tesserae Baroque, and Freies Landesorchester Bayern. 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. 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.
ABOUT PACIFIC CHORALE The GRAMMY® Award-winning Pacific Chorale is 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). Founded in 1968, the resident choir at Segerstrom Center for the Arts is celebrated for artistic innovation and expanding the choral repertoire, having given more than 40 world, U.S., and West Coast premieres—including commissions by leading composers such as John Adams, Jocelyn Hagen, Jake Heggie, David Lang, Morten Lauridsen, Tarik O’Regan, Frank Ticheli, and Eric Whitacre. Led by Artistic Director Robert Istad, Pacific Chorale presents its own concert series and enjoys long-standing partnerships with Pacific Symphony and the LA Phil, with
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which it won the 2022 GRAMMY® Award for Best Choral Performance for Mahler: Symphony No. 8 conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. The ensemble tours internationally, maintains a discography of 14 self-produced recordings, and offers extensive free digital programming. Its choral-theatrical film To the Hands was featured as an Official Selection at the Newport Beach Film Festival and won Best Experimental Feature Film at the Culver City Film Festival. Education programs include after-school vocal instruction for elementary students, a high school summer camp, and an annual community-wide singing event. www.pacificchorale.org
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ABOUT PACIFIC CHORALE Robert Istad / Artistic Director and Conductor Phillip N. and Mary A. Lyons Artistic Director Chair Kibsaim Escárcega / Assistant Conductor Ron Rudderow Legacy Chair
Rhett M. Del Campo / President & CEO Alex Nelson / VP, Artistic Production & Operations David Clemensen, DMA / Collaborative Pianist
SOPRANO
ALTO
TENOR
Rebecca Hasquet
Jane Hyun-Jung Shim
Nicholas Preston
Ryan Thomas Antal
Jephte Acosta Mike Andrews 15 Tyler Berg Nate Brown 10 Christopher Brush Chris Buttars Abraham Cervantes Saunder Choi Michael Elson Marius Evangelista David Evered Abraham Fabella Alan Garcia José Gil Férez Johnny G. Gonzales Richard Greenwood Vincent Hans Steven M. Hoffman Craig S. Kistler Jeremy Lee Christopher Lindley Greg Long David López Alemán Gerald McMillan David Melendez Andy Ngo Lance Padilla Jared Pugh Bryce Rivera Joshua Tan Tessler Frank Watnick Christiaan Westerkamp
Aram Barsamian Mac Bright Adam Daruvala Michael Fagerstedt Larry Gates Randall Gremillion Peter Hahn Brian Hamer Mark Hamilton 15 Tom Henley Jared Hughes Jens Hurty Matthew Kellaway Jonathan Krauss Emilio Lopez Felix Justin McDaniel Tom Mena John Middlebrooks Ryan Miller Martin Minnich 40 Kenneth Moore Ryan Morris Aaron Murphy Zachary T. Nelson Michael Ortiz Jason Pano 10 Seth Peelle Raphael Poon Adrian Rangel-Sanchez Ryan Ratcliff 15 Ben Reyes Miles Rojo Ian Schipper Joshua P. Stansfield Sean TenBrook
Section Leader
Amy Bandy Ammy Beltran Cristen Antal Bornancini 10 Andria Nuñez Cabrera Ariana Celeste Chelsea Chaves Sophia Do Stephanie Garcia Cochran Karla Verónica Gil Adrien Gonzalez Jenna Hansen Erika Jackson 10 Saousan Jarjour Corinne Larsen Linza Kathryn Lillich Susan M. Lindley Sarah Lonsert 10 Anne McClintic 10 Shannon A. Miller Amber Napoli Kimberly Nason Maria Cristina Navarro Mia Noriega Searight Deborah Pasarow 20 Laura Pluth Sarah Schaffner-Pepe Linda Wells Sholik Olivia Siri Sarah L. Sweerman Amelia H. Thompson 10 Haven Watts Anne Williams Victoria Wu
Section Leader
Emily Border Mary Clark Kathryn Cobb-Woll Denean R. Dyson Ivanna Evans Benny Fisher Emma Ginzel Erin Girard Kathleen Thomsen Gremillion Sandy Grim Brandon Harris Meadow Jones Stacey Y. Kikkawa Kristen Kleinhans Bekka Knauer Nellie Kwang Micaela Macaraeg Makenna Malkin Logan Mintz-Hernandez Michele M. Mulidor Carla Neeld Pat Newton 50 Kyrstin Ohta Kathleen Preston Bonnie Pridonoff Ashley Riopka Laurel Sanders Tiffani Santiago Amelia Saunders Lauren Shafer Stephanie Shepson Rachel Steinke Abby Tyree Marijke van Niekerk
BASS
Section Leader Roger W. Johnson Memorial Chair
Section Leader, Ron Gray Legacy Chair
Celebrating milestone years with Pacific Chorale this season.
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PROGRAM NOTES Gustav Mahler Born: Jul. 7, 1860 in Kalischt, Bohemia Died: May 18, 1911 in Vienna, Austria
Symphony No. 2 in C Minor (Resurrection) Composed: 1888-1894 Premiered: Dec. 13, 1895 in Berlin, with Mahler conducting the Berlin Philharmonic. Most recent Pacific Symphony performance: Jun. 11, 2017, with Carl St.Clair conducting. Instrumentation: Four flutes including piccolo, four oboes including English horn, five clarinets including bass clarinet and e-flat clarinet, four bassoons including contrabassoon, ten horns, eight trumpets, four trombones, one tuba, two timpani, percussion, two harps, organ, strings, soprano and alto soloists, and chorus. Approximate duration: 80 minutes. We owe the great legacy of Mahler’s symphonies to three obsessions that preoccupied him throughout his career: first, his veneration of Beethoven—which shaped not only his symphonies, but also his work in conducting and directing opera (Mahler’s revolutionary ideas about Beethoven’s Fidelio, which he called “the opera of all operas,” remain influential today). Second, his exploration and development of symphonic form—which was ceaseless and painstaking. With the specter of Beethoven goading and inspiring him, Mahler reserved the symphony for his deepest expressions of human feeling and belief. Like Beethoven’s Pastoral symphony, Mahler’s second has an unusual five-movement form; more importantly, like Beethoven’s monumental Ninth, it is also a choral symphony with vocal solos that express ideas that go beyond words, exploring Mahler’s third obsession: the fate of the human soul. What happens after we die? The question might seem to be edged in grave solemnity, but in his Symphony No. 2, aptly nicknamed “Resurrection,” the beauty of Mahler’s music gives us a glorious affirmation of purpose in our lives on earth and of immortal life after bodily death. In the years since his death, Mahler has come to be celebrated as perhaps the greatest symphonist since Beethoven. But the recognition was long in coming. During his lifetime, Mahler had greater success as a conductor than as a composer, and even that was mitigated by problems in Vienna and New York City, where he became Principal Conductor of the Metropolitan Opera in 1907 and led the New York Philharmonic. Though his performances earned tremendous acclaim, his conflicts with the trustees of both organizations broke his spirit and damaged his health. In 1911 he returned to Vienna, where he died of pneumonia that same year. The magisterial eleventh edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, published in 1911, was known to provide authoritative explanations of anything worth explaining; its compilers did not see fit to include an article on Mahler. The highly respected New York paper the Herald Tribune, in noting P14 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
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Mahler's passing, was respectful of his achievements as a conductor, but noted "We cannot see how any of his music can long survive him." As a conductor, on the other hand, Mahler was a giant of his day, with a reputation that made him perhaps the first modern celebrity-conductor. As a conductor of opera he was a penetrating musical analyst with a tremendous sense of theater. His sense of drama in music is an essential complement to his ability to explore large ideas in a way that suspends time. Mahler surrounds us with sound that is magisterial yet sensuous— tense, languorous, and triumphant by turns. The lack of popular enthusiasm that greeted his first symphony surprised and worried him as a possible signal that his broader ambitions for the symphonic form might not be understood by his audiences. Though music historians tell us that he composed that work between late 1887 and the spring of 1888, it was really the culmination of an effort of years, incorporating music that Mahler had composed for early compositions. His belief in his own abilities as a composer remained unshaken, but not his confidence in his place in the music world. He worked on his Symphony No. 2 from 1888 to 1894 and saw it become his most successful and popular work with the exception of his eighth. Fate intervened to give impetus to its composition. He initially framed its first movement as a stand-alone symphonic poem called Totenfeier ("Funeral Rites"), then became unsure of whether to keep it in that form or to make it the opening movement of a symphony. Mahler turned to a senior colleague he greatly admired, the eminent conductor and composer Hans von Bülow, for advice on the composition, and the session during which Mahler played it through on the piano for Bülow— reportedly, the bewildered and unaccepting Bülow kept his hands over his ears the entire time—has passed into music legend. It may have been a bitter pill for Mahler, but he and Bülow retained their mutual respect, and Mahler often served as substitute conductor for Bülow as the older man's health declined. In 1893, Mahler launched into the second and third movements, and a symphony began to take shape. But lacking a finale, its overall form was still unclear. Then, in 1894, Bülow died, and Mahler heard a setting of Klopstock's Resurrection Hymn at the memorial service. "It struck me like lightning, this thing," Mahler wrote to the German writer and dramatist Arthur Seidl, "and everything was revealed to my soul clear and plain." Combining the first two stanzas of Klopstock's hymn with additional verses of his own, Mahler gives us a choral testament on the themes of final judgment and resurrection in the symphony's finale. The symphony gives us a radiant musical account of life triumphant. After the stormy "funeral rites" opening movement, the second offers idyllic, dancing themes. (Mahler called for a long pause between these two very different sections.) In the third movement, enthusiasts will recognize music borrowed from his beautiful song cycle Des Knaben Wunderhorn ("the child's magic horn") crafted into a leisurely scherzo. As we transition to the fourth movement, with its mezzosoprano soloist, the music's focus seems to shift from the pleasures of temporal life to the splendors of the eternal. Again, we hear a charming melody from the Wunderhorn, and
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the orchestration seems to shift to textures that are intimate yet celestial, accompanying the sung text with clarinets, glockenspiel, harp, and solo violin. This smaller scale vocal offering prepares us for the monumentality of the chorale in the symphony's fifth and final movement. "It struck me like lightning," he wrote, "and everything was revealed to my soul clear and plain." Combining the first two stanzas of Klopstock's hymn with additional verses of his own, Mahler gives us a choral testament on the themes of final judgment and resurrection in the symphony's finale.
work. It ranges from Thomas Mann’s 1912 novella Death in Venice to Henri-Louis de La Grange’s monumental four-volume biography. Michael Clive is a cultural reporter living in the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut. He is program annotator for Pacific Symphony and has written numerous articles for magazines and newspapers in the U.S. and U.K. and hundreds of program notes for orchestras and opera companies. Operahound.com
Mahler’s life was marked by tragedy and triumph, and his legacy has inspired an unusually rich body of literary and scholarly Urlicht O Röschen rot! Der Mensch liegt in grösster Not! Der Mensch liegt in grösster Pein! Je lieber möcht’ ich im Himmel sein!
Primal Light O little red rose! Humankind lies in greatest need! Humankind lies in greatest pain! Much rather would I be in Heaven!
Da kam ich auf einen breiten Weg; Da kam ein Engelein und wollt’ mich abweisen. Ach nein! Ich liess mich nicht abweisen! Ich bin von Gott und will wieder zu Gott! Der liebe Gott wird mir ein Lichtchen geben, Wird leuchten mir bis in das ewig selig Leben!
Then I came onto a broad path; And an angel came and wanted to turn me away. But no, I would not be turned away! I am from God and would return to God! The dear God will give me a little light, Will light me to eternal, blissful life.
A THRILLING NEW ERA BEGINS THIS FALL Join Pacific Symphony at Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall as Alexander Shelley begins his inaugural season as Artistic & Music Director. THERE'S A SERIES FOR EVERYONE
CLASSICAL | POPS | SUNDAY MATINEES SPECIAL PERFORMANCES | FAMILY MUSICAL MORNINGS CAFÉ LUDWIG | YOUTH ENSEMBLES From breathtaking masterworks and celebrated guest artists to Broadway favorites, intimate chamber music, and musical adventures for the entire family, there is always something extraordinary waiting for you.
ALEXA NDER SHELLE Y ARTISTIC & MU SIC DIRECTOR
LE ARN MORE AND BU Y TICK ETS AT PACIFICSY MPHON Y.ORG MAKE PACIFIC SYMPHONY PART OF YOUR 2026–27 SEASON.
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2026-27 Hal & Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation Classical Series
SHELLEY CONDUCTS THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE AND STRAUSS Preview Talk at 7 p.m. Classical California midday host Alan Chapman Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026 @ 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 @ 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026 @ 8 p.m. Alexander Shelley, conductor James Ehnes, violin Pacific Symphony DUKAS
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
JAMES Violin Concerto No. 2 NEWTON HOWARD James Ehnes, violin —INTERMISSION— STRAUSS Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 Einleitung, oder Sonnenaufgang (Introduction, or Sunrise) Von den Hinterweltlern (Of the Backworldsmen) Von der großen Sehnsucht (Of the Great Longing) Von den Freuden und Leidenschaften (Of Joys and Passions) Das Grablied (The Song of the Grave) Von der Wissenschaft (Of Science and Learning) Der Genesende (The Convalescent) Das Tanzlied (The Dance-Song) Nachtwandlerlied (Song of the Night Wanderer) Scan for Digital Program Book
James Ehnes, violin Henri Temianka Distinguished Violinist Concert Series Sponsored by Dr. Daniel Temianka & Dr. Zeinab Dabbah.
Performance at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.
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ABOUT THE ARTIST James Ehnes, violin James Ehnes has established himself as one of the most sought-after musicians on the international stage. Gifted with a rare combination of stunning virtuosity, serene lyricism, and unfaltering musicality, Ehnes is a favorite guest at the world’s most celebrated concert halls. Recent and upcoming orchestral highlights include the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, NHK Symphony, LA Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Cleveland Orchestra. A devoted chamber musician, Ehnes is the Artistic Director of the Seattle Chamber Music Society and the leader of the Ehnes Quartet. As a recitalist, he performs regularly at Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, Symphony Center Chicago, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Verbier Festival, Dresden Music Festival and Festival de Pâques in Aix. During the 2025-26 season, Ehnes embarked on his 50th birthday recital tour in his native Canada, with performances in every province and territory. Ehnes has an extensive discography and has won many awards for his recordings, including two GRAMMYS®, three Gramophone Awards and 12 Juno Awards, the most of any classical musician in history.
In 2021, Ehnes was announced as the recipient of the coveted Artist of the Year award at the 2021 Gramophone Awards which celebrated his recent contributions to the recording industry, including the launch of a new online recital series entitled ‘Recitals from Home’ which was released in June 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent closure of concert halls. Ehnes recorded the six Bach Sonatas and Partitas and six Sonatas of Ysaÿe from his home with state-of-the-art recording equipment and released six episodes over the period of two months. These recordings have been met with great critical acclaim by audiences worldwide and Ehnes was described by Le Devoir as being "at the absolute forefront of the streaming evolution". Ehnes began violin studies at the age of five, became a protégé of the noted Canadian violinist Francis Chaplin aged nine, and made his orchestral debut with L’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal aged 13. He continued his studies with Sally Thomas at the Meadowmount School of Music and The Juilliard School, winning the Peter Mennin Prize for Outstanding Achievement and Leadership in Music upon his graduation in 1997. He is a Member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Manitoba, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and an honorary fellow of the Royal Academy of Music, where he is a Visiting Professor. Since 2024, he has been Professor of Violin at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. Ehnes plays the “Marsick” Stradivarius of 1715.
Henri Temianka Distinguished Violinist Concert Series Honoring Henri Temianka’s Enduring Artistic Voice Pacific Symphony is grateful to Dr. Daniel Temianka and Dr. Zeinab Dabbah for generously sponsoring this performance as part of the Henri Temianka Distinguished Violinist Concert Series. Their support honors Henri Temianka’s legacy as a virtuoso, chamber music pioneer, educator and artistic voice and brings violin artistry to audiences today.
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PROGRAM NOTES Paul Dukas
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice Composed: 1897 Premiered: May 18, 1897 in Paris, with the composer conducting the Société Nationale de Musique. Most recent Pacific Symphony performance: Aug. 9, 2014, at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre with Richard Kaufman conducting. Instrumentation: Three flutes including piccolo, two oboes, three clarinets including bass clarinet, four bassoons including contrabassoon, four horns, four trumpets, three trombones, timpani, percussion, harp, and strings. Approximate duration: 12 minutes. Paul Dukas figures prominently in the cultural history of his native France. The extensive scholarship on his life and achievements reveals him to be an astute critic and music editor as well as an important composer who was a contemporary of Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy, both of whom were his friends and colleagues. Dukas was influential and had a major impact on the French music scene. But in the United States, his longer, more major works—such as his fascinating opera La peri—are not well-known. His reputation rests on a smaller, superbly crafted work that lasts scarcely a quarter of an hour: his beguilingly spooky tone poem The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (L’apprenti sorcier). Walt Disney’s brilliant animation of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice inspired an improbable alliance with Disney, superstar conductor Leopold Stokowski, and Mickey Mouse in the 1940 film classic Fantasia. Mickey’s memorable star turn as the apprentice earned him a congratulatory handshake with the live-action Maestro Stokowski in an early bit of movie magic. The rest is Hollywood history. Despite its brevity, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice fully demonstrates Dukas’ skillful craftsmanship—particularly in his evocative use of orchestral color and texture, and in its harmonies, which were at the forefront of French innovation. The rhythm is unstoppably bouncy as the magic gets out of hand, but those chords! Are they major or minor? Dissonant or assonant? None of those, really, but symmetrical, constructed in uniform intervals. The result is a kind of controlled ambiguity that defines the mystery of the apprentice’s predicament: in an attempt to escape his chores, he unleashes magical forces that could flood his village. How will he stop them? Even if you haven’t seen Fantasia, the music alone perfectly describes the arcing story line of this programmatic work, which starts serenely and ends where it started—but only after a hair-raising climax. The story is an international classic: In the Italian folk tale, the assistant to the wise old witch Strega Nona unleashes a flood of pasta! Wolfgang von Goethe’s literary German version is Der Zauberlehrling.
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Born: Jun. 9, 1951 in Los Angeles
Violin Concerto No. 2
Born: Oct. 1, 1865 in Paris, France Died: May 17, 1935 in Paris, France
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James Newton Howard
Composed: 2025 Premiered: Jun. 12, 2025 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., with James Ehnes as soloist and James Gaffigan conducting the National Symphony Orchestra. Most recent Pacific Symphony performance: This is a Pacific Symphony premiere. Instrumentation: Three flutes including piccolo, two oboes including English horn, three clarinets including bass clarinet, two bassoons including contrabassoon, four horns, three trumpets, four trombones, one tuba, timpani, percussion, harp, celesta, piano, strings, and solo violin. Approximate duration: 35 minutes. The accomplishments of American composer James Newton Howard are beyond question, as is the certainty that you have heard his music: he has written the scores for more than 100 films including Michael Clayton, The Village and Batman: The Dark Knight (for which he won a GRAMMY®) as well as the hit television series ER, and has been nominated eight times for the Academy Award. Though he is a frequent collaborator with M. Night Shyamalan, his range extends far beyond horror films. Howard’s compositions for the concert hall have also earned high praise—including his first orchestral composition, I Would Plant a Tree, premiered by Pacific Symphony in 2009, and his Violin Concerto No. 1, which so impressed Pacific Symphony audiences that we were pleased to program his second. Howard told interviewer Jon Burlingame of the Los Angeles Times that he found composing entirely on his own terms, without a director's constraints, to be both liberating and difficult; for all his achievements in the difficult realm of movie music, Howard called his first orchestral commission "terrifying." Since then, his confidence as an orchestral composer has only grown. The comparison with an earlier master of movie music is interesting: Erich Korngold based his violin concerto on themes from his popular swashbuckler scores, but Howard’s violin concertos assert their individuality. They are decidedly not movie music. “This is a soul-cleansing process for me,” he told Burlingame, “to be able to write completely unrestricted, provide my own narrative and work with Carl St. Clair and an orchestra the caliber of Pacific Symphony.” His affinity for the violin is evident in both concertos. He worked closely with violinist Hilary Hahn on the soundtrack of The Village, earning a GRAMMY® nomination. They also collaborated on Hahn's 27 Pieces encore project, reuniting for Howard's 2023 retrospective album Night After Night.
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Richard Strauss Born: Jun. 11, 1864 in Munich, Germany Died: Sep. 8, 1949 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Also Sprach Zarathustra Composed: 1896 Premiered: Nov. 27, 1896 in Frankfurt, with Strauss conducting. Most recent Pacific Symphony performance: Apr. 13, 2019, with Jean-Marie Zeitouni conducting. Instrumentation: Four flutes including piccolo, four oboes including English horn, four clarinets including bass clarinet and e-flat clarinet, four bassoons including contrabassoon, six horns, four trumpets, three trombones, two tubas, timpani, percussion, two harps, organ, and strings. Approximate duration: 33 minutes. Strauss' tone poem Also sprach Zarathustra is inspired by the enigmatic philosophical work of the same title by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. The work’s central character, Zarathustra, serves as the voice of a series of philosophical reflections on humanity, nature, knowledge, and existence. Strauss translates these ideas into a richly expressive orchestral work, using vivid instrumental colors and dramatic contrasts to evoke a sense of cosmic scale, natural phenomena such as sunrise, and a range of human emotions, including yearning and joy. The nine sections of Strauss' setting, played with only three major pauses, correspond to sections of Nietzsche's text. But Strauss' gift for the specifics of musical narrative are less relevant here than in a tone poem such as Till Eulenspiegel, with
its story-driven episodes. Zarathustra's furious orations are of limited interest today, but the mood-paintings Strauss drew from them are ravishing. Strauss composed Zarathustra in 1896, when he was 31. But in 1968, two decades after his death, its place in the orchestral canon changed dramatically. That's when Stanley Kubrick included its introduction, an intensely dramatic rendering of a sunrise, in his film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Suddenly, Zarathustra was everywhere, and still is. The hyperdramatic opening of Zarathustra strikes many listeners as a finale, but it is actually a depiction of a beginning— and, in Kubrick’s vision, appropriately profound to signal the dawn of homo sapiens’ development as a questing, intelligent being. Strauss labeled the composition’s nine sections as follows: 1. "Einleitung, oder Sonnenaufgang" (Introduction, or Sunrise) 2. "Von den Hinterweltlern" (Of the Backworldsmen) 3. "Von der großen Sehnsucht" (Of the Great Longing) 4. "Von den Freuden und Leidenschaften" (Of Joys and Passions) 5. "Das Grablied" (The Song of the Grave) 6. "Von der Wissenschaft" (Of Science and Learning) 7. "Der Genesende" (The Convalescent) 8. "Das Tanzlied" (The Dance Song) 9. "Nachtwandlerlied" (Song of the Night Wanderer)
Michael Clive is a cultural reporter living in the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut. He is program annotator for Pacific Symphony and has written numerous articles for magazines and newspapers in the U.S. and U.K. and hundreds of program notes for orchestras and opera companies. Operahound.com
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presents Pacific Symphony's Family Musical Mornings
SYMPHONY SPOOKTACULAR Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026 @ 10 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. Moon Doh, conductor Victor Yerrid, director, scriptwriter, puppeteer Pacific Symphony A festive celebration of Halloween for the whole family! Join the fun at Symphony Spooktacular, hosted by everyone’s favorite spotted guide, Leopold the Leopard! This family-friendly concert features playful, spooky orchestral favorites that capture the magic and imagination of the season. Come dressed in your favorite costume—whether you’re a superhero, witch, ghost, or something entirely your own—and join Leopold for a festive concert filled with music, laughter, and spooky fun. Put on your costume and join Leopold for a spooktacular morning of music! With Image Magnification on the big screen for a closer look at the actors and musicians. Lobby Activities Be sure to enjoy Halloween-themed activities in the concert hall lobby, including hands-on games, coloring stations, and festive photo opportunities for kids and families. Lobby activities begin: 9:00 a.m. for 10:00 a.m. concertgoers | 12:15 p.m. for 11:30 a.m. concertgoers Pacific Symphony's Family Musical Mornings concerts are for the whole family (recommended ages 5+). All concert attendees need a ticket for entry regardless of age. Scan the QR Code to the right to learn more about how Family Musical Mornings work to include audiences of all kinds. “Our favorite moment was the storytelling and seeing all the musicians wearing less formal attire and costumes!” — Family Musical Mornings Patron
Performance at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall P20 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
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Sunday Matinee
SHELLEY CONDUCTS DUKAS AND STRAUSS Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026 @ 3 p.m. Alexander Shelley, conductor Pacific Symphony DUKAS
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 STRAUSS Einleitung, oder Sonnenaufgang (Introduction, or Sunrise) Von den Hinterweltlern (Of the Backworldsmen) Von der großen Sehnsucht (Of the Great Longing) Von den Freuden und Leidenschaften (Of Joys and Passions) Das Grablied (The Song of the Grave) Von der Wissenschaft (Of Science and Learning) Der Genesende (The Convalescent) Das Tanzlied (The Dance-Song) Nachtwandlerlied (Song of the Night Wanderer)
Scan for Digital Program Book Performance at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. PACIFICSYMPHONY.ORG
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ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES 17620 FITCH, STE. 100, IRVINE, CA 92614 (714) 755‑5788
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mark Nielsen* Chair Christopher Tower* Vice Chair of Finance & Treasurer Arthur Ong* Immediate Past Chair Diana Martin* Secretary
HONORARY DIRECTORS
Howard and Roberta Ahmanson Sandy Segerstrom Daniels
Jim and Jane Driscoll Susie and Steve Perry
Andria Strelow* Co-Vice Chair, Campaign & Development Joann Leatherby* Co-Vice Chair, Campaign & Development John E. Forsyte* President & CEO
Michelle Rohé Sally E. Segerstrom
Ted and Rae Segerstrom
DIRECTORS Michael Adams Susan Anderson* Leona Aronoff-Sadacca* Michael Buttlar Jo Ellen Chatham* Patrick Chen Alayne Cortes William Dolan Lucy Dunn John Evans* Mohsen Fahmi* Barbara Foster* Maria Francis Mike Gordon* Robyn Grant Nick Guanzon-Greenko Andy Hanson
Janine Heft Brian T. Hervey Arnold Holland Michelle M. Horowitz James Newton Howard Donald Hu Reza Jahangiri Patrick Johnson* Seth Johnson Edward Kim Johanna Kim Joann Leatherby* Agnes Lew Robin Liu Phil Lyons* Diana Martin* Patricia McAuley*
David Melilli Haydee Mollura Maurice Murray Tawni Nguyen Mark Nielsen* Arthur Ong* Anoosheh Oskouian* Karin Pearson Judy Posnikoff* Chiyo Imai Rowe Richard Ruszat Yassmin Sarmadi Denise Scott Scott Seigel* Evan B. Siegel Ron Simon Walter B. Stahr
Andrea Steiner* Andria Strelow* M.C. Sungaila* CarolAnn Tassios* Andy Thorburn* Christopher Tower* Bart Van Aardenne* Framroze (Fram) Virjee Henry Walker Judy Whitmore* Nancy Wong* Jane Yada
Catherine Emmi Douglas Freeman Ron Hanson Hans Imhof Barbara Sue Johnson Janice Johnson**
Damien Jordan Michael Kerr Liz Merage Stacey Nicholas William Podlich Michelle Rohé
Hon. H. Warren Siegel Ronna Shipman Doug Simao Janice Smith Elizabeth Stahr** Eve Steinberg
Musician Representatives to the Board of Directors Cynthia Ellis Elliott Moreau Robert Schumitzky *Executive Committee
Segerstrom Center Liaison Jane Yada
LIFE DIRECTORS Sally Anderson James Baroffio Frances Bass Carol Choi Suzanne Chonette John Daniels
William Thompson David Troob Stewart Woodard Charlie Zhang
BOARD OF COUNSELORS CarolAnn Tassios+ Chair
Stanley Angermeir Dr. Fernando H. Austin Lori Bassman Sally Bender Virginia Boureston** James Carter Eileen Cirillo Ronna Coe Rebecca Cooper Dr. Timothy Cotter
Susan Crowson+ Peter J. Desforges William Dickinson Marilyn Forsstrom Kenneth Freed Jack Goffman Duncan Grazier Stevan J. Gromet+ Peter Haaker Audrey Hsu Betsy Jenkins Carole Johnson
P22 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
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Marsha Johnson Dennis Keith Curt Knauss Dr. Kenneth Labowe Dr. Milton Legome Marilyn Liu Ellen R. Marshall+ Goran Matijasevic Dru Maurer+ Lynn McMaster Paula Mitchell+ Julian J. Mendez
Pacific Symphony 2026-27 Season
Peter Moriarty Sandy Na+ Carla Neeld+ Dot Nelson+ Lauren Packard Nikki Palley Catherine Pazemenas Rosalinda Rea+ Caroline Renken Tyler Runge Rick Schweickert Ron Stein |
September/October 2026
Sean Sutton Karen Thorburn+ Steven Tollefsrud Edith Van Huss Lucia Van Ruiten Steven Wolf Robert Zaugg +Leadership Committee **Deceased
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ENDOWMENT SOCIETY PHILLIP N. AND MARY A. LYONS HONORARY CO-CHAIRS Pacific Symphony 50th Anniversary Endowment Campaign: A Vision for the Future A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE Since 1978, Pacific Symphony has been vital to Orange County's cultural scene, offering world-class performances and engaging educational programs. With over 75 dedicated musicians and more than 100 concerts annually, we strive to enrich lives throughout Southern California. JOIN US IN SECURING THE FUTURE We invite you to invest in our Endowment to sustain and grow these programs. THE PHIL AND MARY LYONS CHALLENGE We are excited to announce the $10 Million Challenge from Phil and Mary Lyons, providing a dollar-fordollar match for all pledges made to the endowment before June 30, 2027. This means your contribution will effectively double, bringing us closer to our $100 million endowment goal. Participate in this challenge to honor your love of music while ensuring a vibrant future for Pacific Symphony.
MAESTRO’S VISIONARIES ($10,000,000+)
IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS Your support sustains our signature concert series, including the Classical and Pops Series, and education initiatives like Class Act and Heartstrings, reaching thousands of young musicians and underserved communities.
Catherine and James* Emmi William J. Gillespie* Eleanor* and Michael Gordon Mary and Peter Muth* Susie and Steve Perry Pat and Bill Podlich Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation
Phil and Mary Lyons
CONDUCTOR’S VISIONARIES ($5,000,000 - $9,999,999) Charlie and Ling Zhang Judy and Wes Whitmore
SYMPHONIC VISIONARIES ($2,000,000 - $4,999,999)
ENDOWMENT CONTRIBUTIONS Contributions can be made through cash, securities, or estate planning. Our endowment currently stands at over $53 million, with a goal of $100 million by 2035 to secure long-term financial stability.
ORCHESTRAL VISIONARIES ($1,000,000 - $1,999,999) Suzanne and David Chonette Rondell and Joyce Hanson Hans and Valerie Imhof Dot and Rick Nelson Elizabeth* and John* Stahr
NAMING OPPORTUNITIES Establish a named endowment or musician chair: • $500,000: Section Musician Chair • $1 million: Principal Chair for 15 years • $2.5 million: Associate/Assistant Principal Chair in perpetuity • $3.5 million: Principal Chair in perpetuity
COMPOSERS' VISIONARIES ($500,000 - $999,999) Dorothy B. Stillwell* M. William Dultz* Stacey Nicholas
YOUR GIFT MAKES A DIFFERENCE By contributing to our endowment, you ensure that Pacific Symphony continues to inspire future audiences.
CONCERTMASTER'S VISIONARIES ($250,000 - $499,999)
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Anonymous Christine Poochigan-Avakoff* Stanley Behrens John and Ruth Ann Evans Roger W.* and Janice M. Johnson Roger and Tracy Kirwan Roger and Gail* Kirwan Marcy Arroues Mulville* Annette Rosenthal* Julia Rappaport* Fred and Wendy Salter William and Nancy Thompson Janet and Robert Zaugg
COUNTERPOINT VISIONARIES ($25,000 - $99,999 ) Sally Anderson and Tom Rogers Susan and Sam* Anderson Kim and Dawn Burdick Lucy Dunn Damien and Yvonne Jordan Roy Garrett and Dianne Belcher Mark Chapin Johnson Donald* and Dorothy Kennedy Randall* and Suki McCardle Darrellyn and David Melilli Ted and Jance Smith David and Tara Troob Ben and Cheryl Trosky Henry Walker Samuel and Mary Gayle Wolgemuth Wallace and Elizabeth Wong * In Memoriam
Anonymous William E. Boehringer II Margaret Corkett Michael W. Dewey Mary E. Moore Paul and Elisabeth Merage Joseph* and Karalyn Schuchert Theodore and Janice Smith William and Nancy Thompson
LET’S SHAPE THE FUTURE OF MUSIC TOGETHER For more information on how to contribute, please contact Emily Rankin, Vice President for Development at ERankin@pacificsymphony.org or (714) 876-2398.
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SONATA VISIONARIES ($100,000 - $249,999)
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Pacific Symphony 2026-27 Season
PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P23
8/20/26 12:43 PM
ANNUAL SUPPORT
DONORS CRYSTAL SOCIETY
The Crystal Society recognizes those donors who over time have made a commitment of $1 million or more. We extend our thanks to the following donors for their extraordinary support. Anonymous (3) Mr. and Mrs. Howard F. Ahmanson Jr. Susan and Samuel* Anderson The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Leona Aronoff-Sadacca Chevron Suzanne and David Chonette City of Santa Ana Sandy Segerstrom Daniels Mr. and Mrs. Jim Driscoll M. William Dultz* Catherine Emmi Ruth Ann and John Evans Freedman Foundation Lynn and Douglas Freeman William J. Gillespie*
Eleanor* and Michael Gordon The Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation Joyce and Rondell Hanson David L. Horowitz Family Valerie and Hans Imhof The James Irvine Foundation Janice M. Johnson* Mark Chapin Johnson and Harason Ann Horowitz Damien and Yvonne Jordan Phil and Mary Lyons Sharon and Tom Malloy Tiffany and Joseph Modica Mary Moore Mary M. Muth*
National Endowment for the Arts Stacey E. Nicholas The Nicholas Endowment The Opus Foundation The Orange County Register Rev. and Mrs. Steven L. Perry Sheila and Jim Peterson Patricia and William Podlich Judith Posnikoff Mr. and Mrs. Ron Redmond The Segerstrom Foundation Sally E. Segerstrom Mr. and Mrs. Theodore W. Segerstrom Mr. Douglas Simao and Ms. Kate Peters Sandi and Ronald Simon Janice and Ted* Smith
Wilbert D. Smith Elizabeth* and John* Stahr State of California Target Mr. and Mrs. William S. Thompson Tara and David Troob John M. Tu Mr. and Mrs. Henry Walker Judy and Wes Whitmore Charlie and Ling Zhang Zion Charity Foundation *In Memoriam
MARCY ARROUES MULVILLE LEGACY SOCIETY The Marcy Arroues Mulville Legacy Society honors those who generously make provisions for support of Pacific Symphony in their wills, trusts, financial plans or other planned gifts and gifts of future support. We salute those who have made extraordinary commitments to assure that Pacific Symphony will continue to grow and serve the Orange County community beyond their lifetimes. Anonymous (2) Marilyn V. Adams* Dr. and Mrs. Julio Aljure Leona Aronoff-Sadacca Eric Baur* Fredrick M. Borges, Esq. James Carter Jo Ellen Chatham Alfred J. Chilson and Jamie P. Chilson Grégory Pierre Cox Jann* and Walter* Dietiker Ben* and Patricia* Dolson David M. Doyle Catherine and James* Emmi Lois V. Fahey* Hani Feller Bridget Ford Petrina Noor Friede Philip and Katie* Friedel Denise and Al Frink Gloria Gae Gellman* William J. Gillespie* Gary Good and Jackie Charnley
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Ildi and Stephen* Good Eleanor* and Michael Gordon Robert and Carol Green Peter and Elizabeth* Haaker Mr. and Mrs. Rondell B. Hanson Dr. David E. Hartl* Roger W.* and Janice* M. Johnson Richard Alan Keefe Mr. and Mrs. William Klein Gayle* and Roger Kirwan Dr. James* and Sharon* Lancaster James Lathers* Mr. Gordon L. Lockett* John and Loreen Loftus Phil and Mary Lyons Joan L. Manuel Pat and Rick McAuley Suki and Randall* McCardle William and Lynn McMaster Carlos* and Haydee Mollura Marcy Arroues Mulville* Mary M. Muth* George W. Neiiendam
Dot and Rick Nelson Mark Nielsen Jean E. Oelrich Bill* and Linda Owen Marjorie L. Phillips* Patricia and William Podlich Arthur Ong and Ginger Sun Mr. and Mrs. Osdale-Popa Christine Poochigan-Avakoff* Mark and Russell Ragland Drs. Julia* and Irving* Rappaport Chiyo and Stanton Rowe Elinor Schmidt* Ernest and Donna Schroeder O. Carl Schulz* Dwight Spiers* Bill C. Thornton* Scott and Leslie Seigel Drs. Evan and Jean Siegel W. Bailey and Lenda Smith The Estate of Sol and Polly Sloan Wilbert D. Smith* Louis G. Spisto
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Elizabeth* and John* Stahr Ronald and Cathleen* Stearns Joseph* and Linda Svehla CarolAnn Tassios Jane Pickford Taylor* Andrew and Karen Thorburn Carole and Michael Wade Ruth Westphal* Vina Williams* Robert and Janet Zaugg Charlie and Ling Zhang Madeline and Leonard Zuckerman *deceased
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ANNUAL SUPPORT
DONORS BOX CIRCLE CLUB
The Box Circle Club is a members‑only experience with exclusive seating and reception areas. Please call (714) 876-2396 for more information about becoming a Box Circle Club member. Mary Ann Adams Sarah Anderson and Thomas Rogers Susan Anderson Timothy and Diane Andrews Leona Aronoff-Sadacca Dr. Fernando Austin Hana Ayala Jennifer Toma Bainum David Bixler and Kristine Kaneko Alexander Bowie Andrene and Dale Bresnan Richard Boureston Dede Brink Carolyn Brown Jane and Michael Burke Linda and David Bush Carol and Eugene Choi Suzanne Chonette Carlota and Daniel Ciauri Rebecca Cooper John Daniels Patrick and Mary Dirk Suzanne and Peter Desforges Jane and Jim Driscoll Mike Easton Claudia Erticci Ruth Ann and John Evans Janet and John Fossum Peggy and Jon Feder Gavin and Beth Huntley-Fenner Bridget L. Ford Kenneth and Odette Freed
Lynn and Douglas Freeman Petrina Friede Margaret Gates Rhona Gewelber Michael Gordon Renee and Gordon Graham Melanie and Curt Graham Rona and Stevan Gromet Lucille Harrison Dr. Laird and Margaret Hayes Dr. Gwen Hecht Randy and Kelly Heyler Betty and Melvin Hoeffliger Dr. Nils-Oliver Hoeppner Michelle Horowitz Linda and William Hughes Christopher Hull Beth and Gavin Huntley-Fenner Valerie and Hans Imhof Dr. Leslie Israel and John Bernstein Michael Ishikawa and Rochelle Bowe Donna Janes Betsy and Gary Jenkins Marsha and Gary Johnson Patrick and Denise Johnson Barbara and Donald Kaul Dr. Lawrence A. Klein Dr. Marilyn Korostoff Evelyn and William Kroener David Lazier Joann Leatherby and Dr. Greg Bates Jeff and Susan LeBoff
Hedy and Charles Lee Caroline and Chang Lim Robin Liu and Shiyao Peng Bonnie and Paul Lubock Phillip and Mary Lyons Sharon and Tom Malloy Laura Masoner Roberta and Richard Mathies Pat and Richard McAuley Suki McCardle Terry McDonald and Terri Beber Darrellyn and David Melilli Elizabeth and Paul Merage Ms. Liz Merage Ellen and Howard Mirowitz Steven and Jenny Mizusawa Leslie and Bob Mulford Nancy and Rick Muth Alexandra and Peter Neptune Don Nguyen and Jenny Kao Anoosheh and Alan Oskouian Richard and Lauren Packard Rev. Steven and Susan Perry Peter and Sheila Pirzadeh Ted Reid Stephanie Richards Michelle Rohé Arthur and Reisha Rosten Richard and Cheryll Ruszat Dr. Ron M Schilling Steven and Paula Schwartz Sally Segerstrom
Theodore and Rae Segerstrom Scott and Leslie Seigel Drs. Evan and Jean Siegel Janet and Henry Siegel Brian and Marca Singer Janice Smith Al Spector and Tatjana Soli Masami and Walter Stahr Ronald and June Stein Larry and Lisa Stofko Andria and Peter Strelow Mary-Christine Sungaila CarolAnn Tassios Karen and Andrew Thorburn Dr. Lauri Thrupp Christopher Tower and Robert Celio David Tsoong and Betty Tu W. Ulmer Ginni and Kent Valley Paul and Stacey Von Berg Lynn and Frank Wagner Judy and Wes Whitmore Drs. Peter and Charlene Wilhovsky Steven Wolf and Karen Skirvin William and Sophia Wong Michael and Melanie Wooten Wozencraft Insurance and Finance Jane Fujishige Yada Allen and Kimberley Yourman Ling and Charlie Zhang
SYMPHONY 100 Symphony 100 is a women’s group dedicated to educating its members about classical music and supporting the artistic programming of Pacific Symphony. Sharon Adams Donna Anderson Anne Angermeir Barbara Boies Dede Brink Carol Choi Suzanne Chonette Eileen Cirillo Cheryl Dale Susan Daly Susan De Santis Sandy DiSario Kathy Dunlap Pat Felbinger Roberta Flores
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Rosalie Lynn Friedman Susan Glass Hope Hansen Kathy Hoffman Michelle Horowitz Gwyn Hoyt Audrey Hsu Valerie Imhof Karen Jackman Sharon Johnson LaDonna Kienitz, Esq. Johanna Kim Varla Knauss Eve Kornyei Gail LaCorazza
Joann Leatherby Elaine Leonard Claudia Looney Luciana Marabella Dru Maurer Betty McClellan Lynn McMaster Darrellyn Melilli Haydee Mollura Dot Nelson Charlotte Novom-Stone Nikki Palley Michelle Parrish-Banas Catherine Pazemenas Pat Podlich
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Lisa Rayburn, Esq. Leslie Rea Nola Rochelle Chiyo Imai Rowe Cheryll Ruszat Dolores Schiffert Donna Schroeder Harriet Selna Patti Sheiner Sharon Simchowitz Marsha Simmons Stacey Spohn Beverly Spring Patricia Steinmann Andria Strelow
Pacific Symphony 2026-27 Season
Ginger Sun Linda Svehla Annie Tutunjian Edith Van Huss Maricel Vest Stacey Von Berg Jaynine Warner Nella Webster O'Grady Charlene Wilhovsky Nancy Wong Susan Zajfen Janet Zaugg Qing Zhao Joyce Zohar
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ANNUAL SUPPORT
DONORS GOVERNING MEMBERS
Governing Members are music lovers who have a passion and appreciation for Pacific Symphony and value the musical experiences the orchestra brings to the community by making a gift of $2,500 or more to Pacific Symphony. We gratefully acknowledge the following supporters whose generous annual fund contributions provide the cornerstone of support for Pacific Symphony.
ST.CLAIR SOCIETY ($250,000+)
Mr. and Mrs. Howard F. Ahmanson Jr. Anonymous Valerie and Hans Imhof Phil and Mary Lyons Anne MacPherson and Peter West Sharon and Tom Malloy Sandy Segerstrom Daniels Mr. and Mrs. William S. Thompson Judy and Wes Whitmore
BERNSTEIN CIRCLE ($100,000–$249,999)
Anonymous Janet Curci Eleanor* and Michael Gordon Joyce and Rondell Hanson Drs. Gwen and Donald* Hecht Suki McCardle Dot and Rick Nelson The Nicholas Endowment Patricia and William Podlich Terry and George* Schreyer Mr. and Mrs. Theodore W. Segerstrom Ronna and Bill Shipman Drs. Jean and Evan Siegel Sandi and Ronald Simon Janice and Ted* Smith Karen and Andrew Thorburn Ginni and Kent Valley Farmers and Merchant Bank / Henry Walker Charles and Ling Zhang
FOUNDER’S CIRCLE ($50,000-$99,999)
Michael Adams Jackie Barbera Mei-Yen H. Chang Ruth Ann and John Evans Maria and Mohsen Fahmi Reza Jahangiri and Kate Levering-Jahangiri Denise and Patrick Johnson Alois and Setsuko Krickl Joann Leatherby and Dr. Gregory C. Bates East West Bank/ Agnes Lew Loreen and John Loftus Elizabeth and Paul Merage Haydee Mollura Arthur Ong and Ginger Sun Anoosheh and Alan Oskouian Rev. and Mrs. Steven L. Perry Judith Posnikoff Sarah Anderson and Thomas Rogers Chiyo and Stanton Rowe Elaine Sarkaria Sally E. Segerstrom Andria and Peter Strelow P26 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
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Diana Martin and Mark Tomaino Christopher D. Tower and Robert E. Celio Sakura and William Wang Nancy Wong and Richard Yang
STRADIVARIUS CIRCLE ($35,000-$49,999)
Ambassador and Mrs. George L. Argyros Leona Aronoff-Sadacca Andrea Bird-Steiner and Jason Steiner David L. Horowitz Family Mark Chapin Johnson and Harason Ann Horowitz Parker S. Kennedy Tracy and Roger Kirwan Paul and Bonnie Lubock Karin Pearson Dr. William and Lynn McMaster Darrellyn and David Melilli Mark Nielsen Dr. Daniel Temianka and Dr. Zeinab Dabbah Melissa and Justin Vaicek
VIRTUOSO CIRCLE ($20,000-$34,999)
Susan Anderson Anonymous Patrick Chen Tiffany and Edward Chen Suzanne Chonette John Daniels Lucetta Dunn Daniel Hales Donald Hu and Janet Zheng Kong Judy and Jerry Huang Sharon and Seth Johnson Barbara and Don Kaul Dr. Kenneth and Johanna Kim Jerry and Terri Kohl Robin Liu and Shiyao Peng Pat and Rick McAuley Goran Matijasevic Annica and James Newton Howard Wilfred M. and Janet A. Roof Foundation/Jeff Snyder Richard Ruszat Honorable H. Warren and Janet Siegel Al Spector and Tatjana Soli Brenda Springer Mary-Christine Sungaila Steven Tollefsrud and Sheila Maquilan Tara and David Troob Jaynine and Dave Warner Janet and Robert Zaugg
CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE ($15,000-$19,999)
CONDUCTOR’S CIRCLE ($10,000-$14,999)
Dr. Fernando Austin The Upbeat Foundation Carol and Eugene Choi Ronna and Donald Coe Rebecca Cooper US Bank/ Alayne Cortes Susan and Robert Crowson Troy Group / Dirk Family Dawn Dow and Kenneth Ferguson Jr. Marilyn and Karl Forsstrom Lynn and Doug Freeman Marilyn Alexander and Lee Friedman Gordon Graham Debra and Larry Green Rona and Stevan Gromet Peter and Elizabeth* Haaker Phylis and David Hsia Gary and Betsy Jenkins Tom Jenkins* Joanne and Dennis Keith Shanaz and Jack Langson Madylon and Dean Meiling Elena Bedford and Raymond Melissa Tom Miller Paula and Philip Mitchell Theresa and Abbas Mohaddes Jennifer and Peter Moriarty Dr. Steve and Sandy Na Lauren and Richard Packard Rosalinda Rea and Andrew Seretan Suzy Krabbe and William Shanbrom James and Nancy Shih Dr. Peter and Connie Spenuzza Walter and Masami Stahr CarolAnn Tassios Oliva Wong and David Yeung Edward Yeung
COMPOSERS' CIRCLE ($5,000-$9,999)
Anne and Stan Angermeir Anonymous Ellen Marshall and Robert Arnold Dr. Harley and Lori Bassman
Diane and Tim Andrews Sally Bender Virginia* and Richard Boureston Pacific Symphony 2026-27 Season
Victoria* and David Collins Margaret Gates Rita and Ira Goldberg Audrey Hsu Susan and Milton Legome Deborah and Jeffrey Margolis Leslie and Scott Seigel Patricia and Charles Steinmann Chris Trela Bart and Lee Anne van Aardenne
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ANNUAL SUPPORT
DONORS Robert and Margaret Beck Barbara Boies Linda and Robin Boyd Carolyn Brown Greg Campbell Mary and John Carrington Jim Carter Eileen Cirillo David Collins Drs. Timothy and Sandra Cotter Vanessa Dente Suzanne and Peter Desforges Bill Dickinson Sandra DiSario Walter C. Fidler Susan Hori and Monica Florian Michele and John Forsyte Odette and Kenneth Freed Parvina and Jim Glidewell Curt and Melanie Graham Dr. Lorellen Green Hope and Erik Hansen Loren Hansen and Lorraine Caukin Grazier Family Trust Dr. Nils-Oliver Hoeppner Christopher Hull Janice Johnson* Keith Johnson Catherine Kissel Dr. Kenneth and Chantelie Labowe / Labowe Family Foundation Iris Liu
Marilyn and Paul Liu Patricia and Robert McLaughlin Dru and Larry Maurer Carla and Kenneth Neeld Allison and Charles Nightingale Fiona and Robert Parker Sherry and John Phelan, Jr. Richard Reisman Caroline Renken Chelsea and Tyler Runge Adrianus Ruygrok Dolores Schiffert Betty Schweickert Thekla Shackelford Marca and Brian Singer June and Ron Stein Dorothy and John Stevens Julia Powers and Bryan Tsu Edith and Thomas Van Huss Gregory Walters Joyce Zohar
SOLOIST’S CIRCLE ($3,500-$4,999)
Massoud Besharat and Sara Hamidi Kristy Cha Graham and TJ Forsyth Paul Hahm Anna and E.G. Hornbostel Parisa Golafshan and Chuck Horning Mark Ike Donna and John Jaecker
Linda and Robert Knoth Susan and Jeff LeBoff Eric Lee Clara and Robert Lobel Deborah and Brian McGowan Nancy and Rick Muth Christie and Robert Narver Tawni Nguyen Catherine Pazemenas Natolie Ochi Emily Rankin Herb Roth Patti Sheiner Dr. Sabina Lin and Peter Tan Dr. Kelly H. Tran Charlotte Varzi Steven Wolf and Karen Skirvin Larry N. Woody
PERFORMERS' CIRCLE ($2,500-$3,499)
Dr. Donald and Claudia Abrahm Ellen Breitman and Brien Amspoker Anonymous Mila Beckers Jane and Michael Burke Jill and Ray Chan Brian Chavez Denise Chilcote Jamie and Alfred Chilson Pamela and Keith Curry Christine Delabar
Ainin and Tom Edman Dr. Janet and John Fossum Tina and Tony Guilder Dr. Gail Maitson Gates Tim and Amy Guth Dr. Thomas and Janet Hryniewicki Patricia Hwang Karen and James Jackman Kristin Jackson Patrick Johnson Jean Carlo Loeza William London Mary and Paul Loya Charlene Metoyer Brit and Robert Meyer Cathleen and Charles Niederman Martha and Edmund Peyton Peter Philips Ann and Robert Ronus Irina and Donald Sabers Jane and Robert Schneider Shari Simmons Dr. William and Marta Sokol Beverly Spring Lisa and Sean Sutton Nancy Untener Stacey and Paul Von Berg Linda Overby and Steve Wedell Normand Lessard and Geofrey Wickett Drs. Charlene and Peter Wilhovsky
SYMPHONY SOCIETY Symphony Society members provide important additional support to Pacific Symphony through annual contributions between $50 and $2,499.
CONCERTMASTER’S CIRCLE ($1,000-$2,499)
Sharon and David Cook Almira and Jim Craig Mr. and Mrs. Edward R. Crockett James Dale Susan and Kevin Daly Suzi Daley Marjorie and Roger Davisson Susan De Santis Mae Delabarre Gwen Del Castillo Joan Donahue Kathy and Jerry Dunlap Claudia Erticci Cheryl and James Farkas Patricia Felbinger Dr. Sidney Field Susan and Michael Finnane Suzanne Fliszar Roberta Flores Ruby and Francis Foo Alex and Steve Fraser Rosalie Lynn Friedman Dan Futterman and Corinne Akahoshi Susan and John Gabriel Tricia and Frank Gebhardt Mary and Stan Glaser
Dorothy and William Acalin Sharon Adams Deborah and John Alder Jessica Amgwerd Anonymous Lois Augustine Dr. Robert Ballard Jan Balthasar Michelle Banas Christopher Bank Shirley Behar Barbara Benson Ryan Best Carolyn and Matthew Biller Devin Binder Pamela Blake Paul Blake Marilyn and Thomas Bleak Andrene and Dale Bresnan Terry Bridges Dede Brink Sylvia Burnett Dr. Robert Chilcote
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Susan Glass Judi Glass Gary Good and Jackie Charnley Ildiko Good Teresa Gordon John Graves Geeta and Anjiv Grover Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Guth Stephen Harner Marilyn Heron Randy Heyler Dai Hoang Mary Hoffman Patricia and Chester Houston Gwyn and Bill Hoyt Wynne I Vivien Ide John Jacobson Charles Janneck Eileen Jeanette Maki Kaijo Dr. Valeh Karimkhani Sharo Khastoo LaDonna Kienitz, Esq. Dr. Lawrence Klein Carolyn and William Klein
Pacific Symphony 2026-27 Season
Eydie Kooiman Eve Kornyei Robert Kulpa Gail LaCorazza Phoebe and Robert Lambeth Doris and Kevin Lee Elaine Leonard Addy and Matthew Lerner Lana and Kenneth Lester Dr. Xiaowu Liang Claudia Looney Robert MacHott Luciana Marabella Jared Mathis Elizabeth McClellan Olga Megdal Cynthia Monter Robert Moodey Michael Moses Ferial Mosharaf Mary Moss Pam and James Muzzy Charlotte Novom-Stone Arlene and Frank O'Donnell Kevin O'Grady and Nella Webster-O’Grady PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P27
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DONORS Linda Owen Kathy Kelso and Douglas Percell Joe and Karen Perricone Robert Pinataro Sue and John Prange Lisa Rayburn Leslie Rea Nola Rochelle Michele Saffell Dr. Michael and Geraldine Schlutz Orva and David Schramm Donna and Ernest Schroeder Harriet and James Selna Albert Shih Sharon Simchowitz Bill and Marsha Simmons Chris and John Smith James Sommerville Stacey Spohn Ronald and Cathleen Stearns Phyllis and Alfred Steinberg Alexander Stimpson Robert Stromberger Linda Svehla Sandra and Robert Teitsworth Andrea Tenner James Thomas Dr. Lauri Thrupp Joe and Karen Tison John and Kay Torell Donna Tran Annie Tutunjian Lucia Van Ruiten Maricel Vest Mark Vuchinich Lynn and Frank Wagner Ruth Weber Donna Anderson and Ronald Willut Nancy Wilson Sandra and Richard Whittaker Linda and Harold Wolff Jennifer and Leung-Wing Wong Phil Wyatt Mirei and Shinobu Yoshida Qing Zhao Chung-Cha Ziesel-Fitch
PRINCIPALS' CIRCLE ($550-$999)
Anonymous Lili Auyeung Shelley Beckham Jacquie and Paul Bethel Heidi and Roger Blackwell Marjorie Boelman Sylvia and Mark Borovay Cathy and Brian Brady Daniel and Charlotta Butler Marilyn and Allen Carter Marcy Dordahl-Jones Erin Coughlan and Joshua Elliot William Freeman Sandy and Thomas Gallaugher Debra Hali P28 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
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Paula and Joel Handler Terry Hanna Diane and Eric Hansen Binhan He Pamela Jarrett Barbara Sue Johnson Diane Kelsey Elaine and Michael Kleinman Drs. Elliott Kornhauser and Joe Baker Marilyn Korostoff Thaddeus Kulpinski Phyllis and Dennis Laherty Jill and William Lambeth Cindy Gardon and Gregory Lincoln Amira Mansour Deborah and John Middlebrooks Angela and Nick Miller Mary Mizer Gloria and Radoslave Mladineo Eleanore Monroe Dr. Edwin Monuki Veronica Navarretta Sarah Onheiber James Palmer John Patterson Dorothea and Peter Perrin Dr. Michael Philipps and Marjorie Adams Phyllis Sakioka John Shaak Tom and Genene Shambo Diane Truong Alice Tutunjian Rose and Donald Tyssee Christina and Alan White Dr. Donald and Ann Williams James Wilson Michelle and Mark Zulauf
MUSICIANS' CIRCLE ($350-$549)
Kelly Acquistapace Fredric and Lisa Albert Barbara Alder Anonymous Robert Apfelzweig Phillip Austin Jennifer Bainum Steve Bjorkman Wendy Blanda John W. Bonner Benjamin Brand Scott Brinkerhoff Karen and Jose Cabanillas Kimberly Cardoso Diane and Cayler Carter Patricia and Jean Louis Cayanni Amy Chen Cynthia and Shigeru Chino Kathy and Shiyun Chung Laila and Margo Conlin Kristin S. Crellin Dr. Ding-Jo Currie Joan Danto
Dr. Adrian de la Torre Suzanne DeRossett Brett Eddington The Estrabridis Family Vicki and John Faivre Doris Farinacci Don Farmer Carol Flynn Dr. Alexander Francini Steve Frates James Furcolow Carolyn and John Garrett James George Linda Ginex Barbara Ginsberg Marvin Goecks Ellen and Michael Gordon Dante Gumucio Donna Chinn and Gerry Hanley Stephen Hayward Terry Heptinstall Brian Hervey John Hoffman Jon Holman Joyce Horowitz Lisa and Dale Hudson Deniene Husted Hsin Hwang Ken Jackson Donald Jacobs Alex Jaimes Nancy and Rodney Jeu Michelle Jordan James Kearns-Heath Dr. Nancy Kidder Arthur Kidman Carol Klein Peggy Day and Delos Knight Eileen and Robert Krause Josephine Lee Carmen Leslie Angela Leu Catherine Green and Ron Levy Anne and Barry Lovinger Robin Lyall Robert MacHott Angela Acevedo and Mike Malouf Greg Marganian Gina Martin Wendy McCalley Melissa Hicks and Thomas McCormack Carol and Timothy McMahon Gisela Meier Catherine and Alexander Miller Ramin Monshizadeh Robin and Monte Nelson Alexandra and Peter Neptune Joyce Ogden Kristy and Max Ollendorff Janice O'Toole William Parlato Edward Perez Janet Petersen
Pacific Symphony 2026-27 Season
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Dorcas Preston Linda Pretzel-Roberts Larry Karlena Rannals Naomi and Casey Reitz Kathie Ridgeway Gabriel and Kelly Kunz Rivas Marisa Ross Deborah Rothbard Tracie Rotter Ann and Kent Rue Kelly Ruggirello Phillip Ruland Barbara and Dan Rycroft Edwin Sambrano Catherine Sassoon Deborah Schmidt Lorraine Schmidt Marilyn Schroeder Dianne and Terry Scott Amber and Chris Seib Caren Sellers Barbara Shapiro Dr. Joel Sheiner Rose and Dennis Shirey Lynn and Ramon Silver Pam Smiley Jelani Solper Vicky Staub Tracie and Brian Sullivan Linda Lee Tenno Muff and Peter Tennyson Donna Thiessen Cyrus Toosky Ernest Torres Johanna Treichler Janice Tubbiola Robert Tygenhof Gail and John Ueberroth Lynda and Larry Underwood Rogell Van Wyk Catherine and Robert Waters Sarah Watkings Diane Weinhold Jane and Glenn Wescott Kevin Wiley Joseph Wong Lydia and Alfred Yu Kathy and Roger Yule
SUPPORTERS' CIRCLE ($150-$349) Richard Allen Eric Anderson Anonymous Kristine Arai Carol and Jerry Aspland Linda and Jim Baker Lauri and Charles Batterman Lisa Battig Stanley Behrens Celeste and Carl Benninger Claudette and Bob Black Anne and Alan Block Ginny and Bill Blough
September/October 2026
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DONORS Dr. Gene Bohlmann Carolyn Bohmholdt Ali Borazjani Jonathan Boswell Charles Bower Charles Boyer Peter Brennan Richard Brumley Dr. Juris Bunkis Maria and Robert* Byerly Bonnie and Albert Calonico Gabriele and Dwight Carey Pamela Carlton Minette Carter Fanglee Chang Yenni Chao Yiling Chen Grace Chen Carol and Jeff Cogan Marcia and Robert Cooley John Corcoran Sharon Coudyser Beth Cummings Judy Cunningham Delores Trevorrow and Tobby Curry James Davenport Dana Dee Lisa Denmark Peggy DeShan Gloria Dialynas Kathy and Lee Dick Christine Eberhard Kathleen Eldred Shawna and Gregory Ellis Engelbrecht Family Steven Fienberg Drs. Cheryl and Herb Fischer Virginia and Neil Fitzpatrick Neil Fitzpatrick Betsy Foster Roberta Fox Norman Fricker Carla Fuchs Ellen Fujikawa Ilona and Stanley Galant Roberto Garcia Sharon and James Givens Kathy and John Gleason Alison Glik Terry Goldfarb Elza Gousseva Carol and Robert Green Richard Guilford Mark Guillod CPA
Dr. Sandra Haberny Larry Hamilton Charles Hanes Jim and Shari Hansen Brenda and Clay Hardwig Jan and Lawrence Harris Dr. Richard Helmer Judith Henderson Monica Herckt Patricia Hicks Steven Highland Angélica Hinojos Michael Hooper Jeremy Hsu Beherl Huang Connie Huang Virginia Cassara and Tim Hunter Fredrick Ieuter Iris Ingram William Iwaki Marcia Jacobson Stan Jantz Dr. Herbert Jennings Dr. James W. Jones Patricia Jorgensen Jenny Kao Virginia and Karl Kawai Sung Yun Kim Michael Kimbrell Bruce Knipp Dinny Beringer and Bruce Larson Claus Dieckell and Kevin Le Barbara and Lloyd Leblanc Robert Lechich Dr. Theodore Lee Judy and John Lerch Rosa Li Ying Li Ben Ling Susan Lodge Jonathan Lukoff Sharon and Tom Malloy Maureen Malone-Uchizono Gary Malouf Karen and William Mangold Jeane and Orville* Marlett Ann Marshall Barbara and William May Duane and Margaret Hillis McDonald Perry McLelland Joy McNamara James Medvitz Richard Meinhold Molly Melachouris
Ramon Melendez Victor Merejkov Ruth Merkel Maurice Meysenburg Susan Michon Beibei Monter Carmelita and David Moore Pat and Dave Morehead Lori Morgan Rosemarie Morrow Cameron Mummery Carol Murrel Reiko and Mitsuhiko Nakano Don Nguyen Natalie Nichols Kim Nugent Dr. Bethany O'Connor Marcia and Dennis O'Hern Maureen Ong Huey Yann Ooi Arthur Oster Thao Owh Nikki Palley Ann and Bernal Peralta Sallie Piccorillo Teresa and Diego Pombo Rabia Qureshi Nina Rahe Carol Thurk and Dwight Reilly Joann Rein Drs. Younghee Cho and Scott Richman Marsha Richter Shelby Rigg Anne Ring Barbara Roberts Yolanda Aguerrebere and Richard Rodriguez Drs. Joanne and Robert Rosenberg Noel Ross Arlene and Scott Rounce Martha Ryan Sylvia Salenius Dr. Dave Samuelson Lydia Savala Karen and Arthur Sayles Dr. David Sbardellati Grace Schlichter Cindy Hughes and Paul Schmidhauser Patricia Schuler The Shaller Family Daniel Sharp Katherine Shum Dr. Robert and Jean Sigler
Nancy and Glenn Silverman James Simon Marilyn Skarin MaryAnne Anthony-Smith and John Smith Wendy Smith Heidi Mak and Chris Sneed Dr. Henry and Toni Sobel Wendy Sobeski Melissa and Philip Solis Joan Son Robert Spalek Spangler Family James Spivey, Jr. Ann Stanton Bobby and Richard Stegemeier Meryl Swanigan Mable and Sam Tam Pauline Tang Janet Thorson Anu Seppala and Torbjorn Tingskog Dr. Alina and Victor Tolan Lynn Weiser and Mike Tompkins Carol and Darrell Tuntland Dr. Tom Turicchi W. Richard Ulmer Rich Ulmer Christine Upham Allison Van Etten Debbi and Ira Victer Jack and Molly Spiegel Memorial Fund Pamela Platz and James Weaver Thomas Weber Meridith Webster Terri and Matthew Wedell Jody and Loren Wedret Brian West Gene Widdicombe Michael Wiechman Diane and Jack Wiegand Karen and Douglas Wilson Mary Kay Wilson Dr. Mark Wohlgemuth Jeanette Bentley and Richard Wolf Susan and Edward Wong Anthony Wong Leonard Wyss Eva Wyszkowski-Hartman Shigeru Yaji Yingyi Yan Dr. Andrew Yen and Grace Chen Chi Zhang and Yi Weng Yimei Zhu
At Pacific Symphony, each and every patron is important to us. If we have inadvertently omitted or misspelled your name, please accept our humblest apologies. Do let us know about our oversight by contacting us at (714) 755-5788. While we cherish our donors all season long, we publish our complete listing only twice per season. For more information or to learn how your investment ensures music and dreams will remain woven into the fabric of our Orange County communities for years to come, please contact us at (714) 876-2345.
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DONORS IN HONOR OF In Honor of Sean and Lisa Sutton Laura Stegman
DONORS IN MEMORY OF In Memory of Susan Faludi Wayne Mintz
In Memory of Shirley Jean Hull Christopher Hull
In Memory of Dr. Bob Lambeth, Lockman Foundation Phoebe and Robert Lambeth
GIVE MUSIC A FUTURE
SHARE THE MUSIC. GIVE TODAY. Music has the power to move us, unite us, and transform our community. Your generosity helps Pacific Symphony bring extraordinary artistic experiences and music-learning opportunities to audiences of all ages, ensuring music remains a vibrant force in Orange County for generations to come. P30 PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE
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DONORS CORPORATIONS AND CORPORATE FOUNDATIONS MUSIC DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE ($100,000+) City of Hope Orange County Farmers & Merchants Bank Fieldstead & Company PNC Bank Regency Air Zion Enterprises, LLC
STRADIVARIUS CIRCLE ($30,000–$49,999) Anonymous Bank of America East West Bank LAist Orange County Business Council SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union South Coast Chinese Cultural Association
FOUNDER’S CIRCLE ($50,000–$99,999) Avenue of the Arts Hotel East West Bank Hoag Hospital Hoag Foundation K-EARTH Kimura London and White LLP PBS SoCal The Capital Group Companies The Park Club The Westin South Coast Plaza U.S. Bank/US Bancorp Foundation
VIRTUOSO CIRCLE ($20,000–$29,999) Desforges Vineyards South Coast Plaza Smart & Final Charitable Foundation CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE ($15,000–$19,999) Pacific Life Foundation
CONDUCTOR’S CIRCLE ($10,000–$14,999) Van Cleef & Arpels South Coast Plaza COMPOSERS' CIRCLE ($5,000–$9,999) Tri Counties Bank SOLOIST’S CIRCLE ($3,500–$4,999) Bank Irvine Cartier PERFORMERS' CIRCLE ($2,500–$3,499) Merrill Lynch SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union
DONORS FOUNDATIONS AND PUBLIC INSTITUIONS MUSIC DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE ($100,000+) City of Irvine Hanson Family Foundation State of California/Senator Dave Min Jewish Community Foundation of Orange County Orange County Community Foundation Samueli Foundation The Ahmanson Charitable Community Trust The Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation The Joe MacPherson Foundation The Nicholas Endowment The Segerstrom Foundation The Simon Foundation for Education and Housing The Thompson Family Foundation FOUNDER’S CIRCLE ($50,000–$99,999) Chapman University City of Mission Viejo Isidore C. and Penny W. Myers Foundation Loftus Family Foundation National Endowment for the Arts The UCI Foundation
VIRTUOSO CIRCLE ($20,000–$29,999) City of Costa Mesa City of Newport Beach Farhang Foundation Sino Us Performing Arts Organization Smart & Final Charitable Foundation Wilfred M. and Janet A. Roof Foundation CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE ($15,000–$19,999) California State University Fullerton Margolis Family Foundation Pacific Life Foundation CONDUCTOR’S CIRCLE ($10,000–$14,999) Anonymous Bialer Family Foundation Crean Foundation Croul Family Foundation Fletcher Jones Foundation The Frome Family Foundation The Shanbrom Family Foundation
COMPOSERS' CIRCLE ($5,000–$9,999) Robert J. & Doreen D. Marshall Fund Gerrit and Amy Cole Foundation Labowe Family Foundation Mariner's Foundation Newport Beach Arts Commission SOLOIST’S CIRCLE ($3,500–$4,999) David and Molly Pyott Foundation St. Louis Community Foundation PERFORMERS' CIRCLE ($2,500–$3,499) Miracle Fund Foundation Robinson Foundation CONCERTMASTER’S CIRCLE ($1,000–$2,499) Renaissance Charitable Foundation
STRADIVARIUS CIRCLE ($30,000–$49,999) Argyros Family Foundation Bank of America Foundation Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation
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STAFF
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES
17620 FITCH, STE. 100, IRVINE, CA 92614 EXECUTIVE OFFICE (714) 755‑5788 John E. Forsyte President & CEO Sean Sutton Executive Vice President & COO Eileen Jeanette Senior Vice President of Artistic Planning & Production Sharon Lee Executive Assistant ARTISTIC & ORCHESTRA OPERATIONS Will Hunter Senior Director of Production William Pruett Director of Multimedia Operations
Alice Tuntunjian Director of Major Gifts and Legacy Planning Daniel Escobar Director of Individual Giving and Governing Members
Shawne Zarubica Managing Director, Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles
Addy Lerner Director of Annual Giving
Jared Brown Director of Orchestra Personnel
Amy Doan Development Operations Associate & Tessitura Specialist
Alison Spaeth Principal Librarian Dani Reynolds Artistic Services Manager Carlos Correa Artistic Programs Manager Joshua Bishop Stage Manager Vivian Wu Youth Orchestra & Santiago Strings Manager Jackson Nguyen Youth Wind Ensemble & Youth Concert Band Manager
Robyn Curby Director of Special Events
Mary Custodio Development Coorindator Cailin Zarate Special Events Coordinator Grace Gee Box Circle VIP Concierge EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Ameena Maria Khawaja Vice President of Education & Community Engagement
Kelly Picton Assistant Librarian
Daniel Oguri Senior Manager of Community Engagement
Bethany Goldberg Youth Ensembles Coordinator
Payal Swami Senior Manager of Class Act
Reinhard Siedenburg Operations Coordinator
Karen Akiyoshi Class Act Program Associate & Class Act Regional Manager
DEVELOPMENT Emily Rankin Vice President of Development Mandana Mahmoudi Senior Director of Development & Campaign Operations Luisa Cariaga Director of Institutional Giving
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Evelyn Miller Class Act Regional Manager Lisa Cappel Brown Class Act Regional Manager Hannah Gaugush Manager of Creative Learning Michelle Dalirifar Education & Community Engagement Coordinator
FINANCE, ADMINISTRATION & IT Jesse Hiser Associate Vice President of Finance Abby Edmunds Associate Vice President of Volunteer Services Sandra Perez Payroll & Benefits Administrator Jayee Liu Senior Human Resources Manager Yolanda Reyes Accounting Specialist Matthew Vu Staff Accountant Stephanie Smith Special Projects Manager Ludmila Passioukova Accounts Receivable Associate Michelle Piyapattra Administrative & Volunteer Services Associate MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Dana Long Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Adam Kirchoff Social Media & Content Creator Senior Associate Christian Ricciardi Videographer & Digital Content Associate Liz Butler Marketing Assistant PATRON SERVICES Amber Jackson Director of Ticketing & Customer Service Erica Sharp Manager of Ticketing Services LeeAnne Nakamura Ticket Sales & Customer Service Associate Jenny Cedillos Ticket Sales & Customer Service Associate Joe Zeltzer Ticket Sales & Customer Service Associate COUNSEL Kimura London & White LLP Official General Counsel
Lorraine Caukin Senior Director of Sales & Marketing Operations Susan Ruzbasan Director of Group Sales Jake Hellar Director of Marketing Data Analytics & Patron Insights Bonnie Babb-Cheshul Art Director & Senior Graphic Designer Spencer LaMoure Digital Marketing Manager
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Photo: Johanna Brinckman
Isaiah Collier
Isaiah Collier is a saxophone player, but he is also so much more. He is a composer, arranger, curator, activist, motivational speaker, educator, and he plays the drums. The man is busy, busy, busy. Collier makes his Center debut in our 2026-27 jazz series with Isaiah Collier Plays John Coltrane, a performance that honors one of jazz’s most transformative figures while affirming the music’s ability to evolve across generations. Longtime jazz listeners get new insights while new listeners find their way into Coltrane’s world. Collier is not even 30 years old. He began playing the saxophone at age 11 and is an alumnus of the Jazz Institute of Chicago in his hometown. “He has established himself as an heir apparent to both the Chicago lineage and the post-Coltrane sax tradition,” says The New York Times. In 2024 the Chicago Tribune named him one of their Jazz Artists of the Year. Last year he was on the cover of the April issue of Downbeat magazine, which also hailed him as “The Next Sax Giant”—a title that reflects his singular role in shaping the sound of modern jazz. Known for fusing jazz traditions with the present moment, Collier has been described as a force of creativity and improvisation. The result is music that feels both grounded and electric. Drawing from Coltrane’s spiritual intensity and fearless improvisation, Collier channels that legacy through his own voice. Following Collier, pianist Jason Moran will be joined by Pacific Symphony in Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the birth of Duke Ellington, one of
the most important and influential composers of the 20th century. Jason Moran Presents Duke Ellington: My Heart Sings looks at Ellington’s work through Moran’s contemporary eyes. Moran demonstrates the sophistication, swing and emotional depth of Ellington’s music, and treats it as a living thing that continues to shape American music. Rather than preserving Ellington in amber, Moran sees the music as open to reinterpretation, expansion, and surprise. “Ellington’s contribution is so monumental. It’s so vast. It’s so complex,” says Moran. “There’s no Thelonious Monk playing the way he plays without Duke Ellington showing him how to punch the instrument. And Duke does it in a way that still lives in my hands, because I got it from Thelonious Monk.” Jason Moran Plays Duke Ellington, a recording released in February of this year, highlights Moran at the peak of his discerning and playing powers, immersed in the historical and musical significance of one of America’s greatest composers. “Getting these moments to just sit down and play a night of his music alone or with a big band allows me to reintroduce the music to the audience, and to send them back home to go try to find the Ellington version,” he told Jazztimes.com. “I’m thankful that Duke Ellington’s name continues to be spoken aloud. His contribution is so monumental. “[Ellington] found a way to make that piano soulful and tell the stories of people he’s met or landscapes he’s felt,” says Moran. “My God, the piano playing. Someone should be saying that every once in a while, so now I’m that person.”
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Jason Moran
Photo: Clay Patrick McBride
Segerstrom Center Presents
Isaiah Collier Plays Coltrane Samueli Theater October 3
Jason Moran Presents Duke Ellington: My Heart Sings Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall October 27
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disadvantaged side of town—are troublemakers who will never amount to anything good, and they do everything to maintain their power. In this heartbreaking story of unrequited love, gang repercussions and friends who are hurt or die, it seems like the cycle of alienation will continue. It’s difficult to find your way out of that narrative when everyone has you labeled, and even good deeds are misinterpreted. It’s a story worth visiting again on stage. “The musical version has been made with so much love and sincerity it survives with … its heart intact,” says The New York Times. “Though this is the first musical Tony winner [Dayna] Taymor has directed, she brings with her a … gift for complexities of pain and varieties of darkness.” “This musical breathes new life into the narrative,” Austin magazine says. “What truly elevates this production is its technical
Photo: Matthew Murphy
The nighttime rumble of another fight between rival groups of high school teens. Insults and threats, the flick of a knife. An altercation between the Greasers—the outsiders—and their rivals, the Socials from the rich part of town, turns violent when Greasers Ponyboy Curtis, aged 14, and his best friend Johnny get pulled into a brawl that doesn’t end well. The Outsiders, the Broadway hit musical, comes to the Center next month. It’s the winner of four Tony® Awards, including Best Musical. The story began as a coming-of-age novel written by S. E. Hinton in 1967 when she was 16 years old. It has sold more than 14 million copies since its publication and continues to sell roughly 500,000 copies annually. “The Outsiders has the power to inspire an entire generation,” says Entertainment Weekly. The Socials think Greasers—from the
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events that have happened throughout the past brilliance,” praising the set design, lighting and choreography as “nothing short of breathtaking.” months. He reads the opening sentences out loud to them, revealing them to be the opening The Outsiders features a book by Pulitzer nominee Adam Rapp co-written with Tony Award lines of the actual The Outsiders novel. Maybe there’s hope yet for his future. winner Justin Levine, and music by Jamestown Revival. In fight scenes, the choreography by Rick and Jeff Kuperman and lighting effects by Brian *A motto the Greasers share. It comes from a MacDevitt are astonishing. poem, “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost, Hollywood superstar Angelina Jolie would who writes that gold is nature’s “hardest hue to agree. She is the lead producer and a very hold.” Ponyboy recites the poem in the musical. involved one at that, thanks to her daughter Vivian. Jolie saw an early adaptation at La Jolla Segerstrom Hall Playhouse with her 15-year-old, who had seen October 20–November 1 it previously and loved it. She encouraged her mom to get involved and Jolie agreed, seeing the opportunity to not only help the show, The Outsiders remains but spend more time with her daughter, who close to the hearts of became a producer’s assistant on the show. so many who read the Jolie was not just a name on the marquee. book and saw the 1983 She worked with other producers to get the film by Francis Ford production to Broadway. The creative team Coppola. The director welcomed her involvement. Co-writer Levine didn’t want to film on told Deadline that the actress had a fresh a Hollywood backlot perspective and challenged them to think about but in Tulsa, Oklahoma, why they were doing things in a particular way. where the book is set. He Cast members noted her “nurturing qualities” found an old house that fit and said she was rooting for their success. the bill as a home for the three Jolie told People magazine that the Curtis brothers in the story and filming production has a profound ability to foster commenced. After the production team left community, highlight resilience and focus on town, the house was deserted and fell into themes of class divides, belonging and finding disrepair. one’s place in the world. She shared with Hip Hop artist Danny Boy O’Connor Entertainment Tonight that taking the role also (“Jump Around”) is a huge fan of the story allowed her to get to know her daughter better and film and has collected an impressive as they were able to deepen their bond through collection of memorabilia. He bought the their shared passion for live theater. “Curtis Brothers House” and took it down *** to the studs for restoration. He then filled Reflecting on the rumble with the Socials the house with his memorabilia and, in 2019, and the deaths of two of his friends, Ponyboy opened it as a museum. It’s very popular: tells his brothers that while he loves being a fans meet other fans, adults who were Greaser, he wants more out of life than gang extras on the movie visit, and S.E. Hinton has fights. His brother Sodapop asks him about dropped by. Even though it was essentially what he was writing in a notebook he keeps a movie set, the house and its story still close, and Ponyboy reveals that it’s a story of resonates. Ponyboy would be thrilled. SEPTEMBER 2026 21
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The name gets your attention first, then you hear them playing. “‘All different types’ isn’t an overstatement,” says The New York Times. “Some of the works in their repertoire sound like globe-trotting folk music while others have the exhilarating intensity of rock. Then comes a contemporary piece of shattering beauty or a standard of similar power by Beethoven.” NPR calls Brooklyn Rider “A string quartet of boundless imagination.” The wide-ranging interests of the four musicians came into play with their name. It’s a nod to the eclectic Blue Rider art movement of the early 20th century, but they changed Blue to Brooklyn to reflect the hip area of New York City where they lived at the time. These musicians look at the string quartet genre as one with endless possibilities for invention as well as deep historic roots. The four have an unquenchable appetite for musical adventure and are primarily recognized for playing unusual and contemporary repertoire as well as classical pieces. The quartet’s Center program reflects the season’s central theme: Beethoven as both heir to tradition and catalyst for artistic revolution. It opens with Haydn, considered the father of the string quartet genre, and closes with Beethoven’s String Quartet in C Major, No. 3—one of the famous “Razumovsky” quartets. Brooklyn Rider also commissioned three composers—Don Byron, Ted Hearne, and Angélica Negrón—to explore questions of citizenship and democracy marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Then the quartet’s own Colin Jacobsen puts his unique spin on “The Times They are A-Changing,” Bob Dylan’s civil rightsera classic. This program highlights how Beethoven’s ideas grew from—and continue to influence—
Photo: Marco Giannavola
Brooklyn Rider gallops into town
the chamber music tradition. “There’s a sameness to the string quartet [genre]” the group’s violist, Nickolas Cords, told The New York Times. “You could sit and play one piece for the rest of your life and not exhaust it somehow. With us, we’re continuing to evolve, and the string quartet is always there for us, like a refuge or a laboratory. It pushes back at us at times, but even in this changing world of ours, it’s still the greatest.” Brooklyn Rider has also gathered an unusual group of collaborators to work with who span the musical sphere. Mezzo-soprano Sophie von Otter, stellar banjo player Béla Fleck, superstar cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and renowned jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman are just a few of the artists who join them. The quartet was chosen by American composer Philip Glass to record his complete string quartets which included the world premiere recording of his Bent Suite. The quartet members were fellow Juilliard School graduates, but today, the main problem they seem to face is meeting to practice together. They each live in different places, although all are in or close to New York City, and each member is also busy with his own side projects. The ensemble doesn’t maintain a regular practice calendar and tends to rehearse mostly when they are touring. “We’re not resting on our laurels,” Cords told The New York Times. “Because if Brooklyn Rider stands for anything, it’s the vitality of the string quartet, limited to four instruments, yet seemingly unlimited in its expression.” Samueli Theater October 11
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Photo: Marco Giannavola
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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
A
T R I B U T E
P O R T F O L I O
H O T E L
ELIZABETH SEGERSTROM FOUNDATION
BLOCK & HARDSCAPE
Family Owned Since 1946
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
Fiona LeCong-Ly, Chairman Jesse D. Bagley Katheryn Baker Lupe Erwin Cory Glass John P. Glowacki Mara J. James Monika Lopez Jill Meznarich Vanessa Moore Maurice Murray Tammy Octavio Patrick Strader Yvonne Tsao Jaynine Warner William Meehan, Founding Chairman * as of August 13, 2026
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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
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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 & Haydee Mollura Hardscape Mr. and Mrs. Michael Moorhead Lana and Walter Parsadayan Vanessa Moore PeopleSpace / Jesse & Amy Bagley Scott and Breanne Myers Carolyn Zarate-Ramsey and Cheryl Hill Oakes Robert Ramsey Mr. John R. Patterson Ms. Maria Rigatti Mary Phillipp and David Johnson Michelle Rohé Dr. and Mrs. Richard Pitts Ms. Christy A. Rosen Bev and Bob Sandelman Ginger Siedschlag Melinda and Steven Sanders Stewart R. Smith and Robin A. Ferracone Elizabeth and Justus Schlichting Connie and Dr. Peter Spenuzza / Spenuzza Honorable H. Warren and Janet Siegel Velastegui Family Foundation Stephanie and Cory Sukert Diane and David Steffy Brian and Tracie Sullivan Swenson Family Foundation Ms. Diana Martin and Mr. Mark Tomaino Dr. Michelle and Mr. David Tabb Wilfred M. and Janet A. Roof Foundation The Tappan Foundation Carol* and Kent Wilken Laura and Tim Vanderhook Jaynine and Dave Warner $15,000+ Estate of Frances A. Williams Elizabeth An and Gordon Clune Mr. and Mrs. Darrel Anderson $35,000+ Katheryn Baker Anonymous Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners Aronoff Family Toni Berlinger Mr. and Mrs. James R. Bergman The Cameron Family Foundation Chelsea and Mark Chiaramonte Marty Chao and Jean Chung David and Barbara Cline Mr. and Mrs. D. Robinson Cluck Jordan Floriani Mr. Joseph Connor Cory Glass Mr. and Dr. Debons Mrs. Vicki Gumm / Kling Family Judi Dutton Foundation Mr. and Mrs. W. James Edwards III Mr. and Mrs. James Hsu Dr. and Mrs. David Eggleston Jeanne and Doug Jackson Ms. Lupe Erwin Mr. and Mrs. Bruce W. Kuluris Allan* and Sandy Fainbarg Britt and Robert Meyer Pat Felbinger Marcia L. Millen, in memory of Mrs. Donna Foulger James and Leath Millen Frome Family Foundation Maryam Parman Mr. and Mrs. T. Fukunaga*/ The Schreiber Family Kay K. Fukunaga Charlie and Ling Zhang Ms. Yolanda Galloway The Doug* and Julie Garn Family $25,000+ Mr. and Mrs. John C. Garrett Dr. Janna Bersi Kim and Scott Harris-Weiner Marta and Raj Bhathal Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hess Katherine and Howard Bland Gay and Rob Johnson Deborah and Larry J. Bridges Mike and Lynn Joseph Maria A. Cadigan Junebug Fund Charles “Chip” Caldwell Mr. and Mrs. William A. Klein California Educational Consultant Group, Mr. and Mrs. C. Ronald Livingston* Inc., Dr. Allan H. Lifson & Isaac Torres The Louise Merage Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence D. Cancellieri Brad and Becky Lund Mr. and Mrs. Edward and Tiffany Chen Mr. and Mrs.* Robert J. Mairena Victoria* and David Collins Twyla Martin-Parsky and Gerald Parsky Bobbi Cox Mr. and Mrs. James V. Mazzo Mary Cramer Lauri McIntosh and John Bottjer Janet L. Curci Mr. and Mrs. Joseph L. McKay Dottie and Bill Feeney Rebecca and Carl McLarand Diane and Joyce* Froot Rutan & Tucker, LLP GOAL Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Dean Meiling Rita and Ira Goldberg Mr. Marshall Miller Maralou Harrington Pam and Jim Muzzy Kathryn Harris Mr. Vianh Nguyen S.L. and Betty Huang / Huang Family Nguyen Financial Group, Chien Nguyen Foundation and Danny Nguyen Mark Chapin Johnson Mr. Rienaldy Nupen Lee Graff Foundation Dr. Kevin O’Grady and Mrs. Nella Webster Deborah H. and Jeffrey H. Margolis Mark and Carol Perry Dr. Richard Gates and Purely Storage, Inc. Dr. Gail Mattson-Gates Ms. Karen Rabe Carole McDonald Joan and Alan Sellers
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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. and Mrs. John Rayburn 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 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
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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
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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
SEPTEMBER 2026 31
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Center Staff EXECUTIVE OFFICE
Casey Reitz, President & CEO Angelica Camarillo, Executive Assistant & Board Liaison
OPERATIONS
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Brian Finck, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
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Finance Seila Heng, Controller MeiMei Chiang, Senior Accountant Andrew Hudson, Assistant Controller Monica Drescher, Generalist, Accounting Rita Mai, Staff Accountant
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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 Jeffrey, Functional Support, Ticketing
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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 Jordan Smyth, Manager, Special Projects Aidan Daguro, Assistant Manager, Production, Event Operations Brennan Roach, Supervisor, Event Operations Dawson McDonald, Coordinator, Campus Operations Alberto Ponce, Coordinator, Office Services Marcie Bernal, Receptionist
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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 Catherine Goodman, Manager, Education Programs Luke Spicer, Manager, Education & Engagement Operations Michael Mariano, Associate Manager, Education Partnerships Adriana Alvarez, Coordinator, Studio D Talia Hirsch, Coordinator, Ed. Partnerships Joanna Lui, Coordinator, Ed. Programs Emma Marting, Coordinator, Ed. Programs Jordyn Williams, Associate, Ed. Operations Danielle Edwards, Administrative Assistant, Studio D
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Engineering Bryan Murphy, Senior Building Engineer Bryan Vojtko, Senior Building Engineer Gus Aleman, Building Engineer Jade Baer, Building Engineer Sean Robertson, Building Engineer Amber Secor, Building Engineer
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Production John Oliphant, Senior Director, Production and Technical Lindy Luong, Manager, Production Glenn Powell, Manager, Production
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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 Ariel Mouzo, Assistant Multicraft Sean Roach, Assistant Multicraft Alexis Vasquez Riggs, Wardrobe Supervisor Kim Robinson, Hair & Makeup Supervisor
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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
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Security Kris Caiati, Director, Security and Public Safety American Ballet Theatre Anthony Bordon, Manager, Security Operations William J. Gillespie School Susan Brooker, Artistic Director, ABT Tyler Cole, Manager, Public Safety Sarah Jones, Managing Director, ABT and Training Jaime Paz, Assistant Manager, Security DEVELOPMENT Alvin Camacho, Supervisor, Security Abigail Buell Sherlock, Vice President, Austin Foster, Supervisor, Security Development Shey Leir, Supervisor, Security Elizabeth Kurila, Associate Vice President, John Standokes, Supervisor, Security Development Lee Yepez, Supervisor, Security Courtney Dudman-Donley, Senior Director, Special Events & Donor Experience HUMAN RESOURCES Kristyn Grime, Director, Major Gifts Marvin Lee, Vice President, Human Resources Lindsey Jacobs, Director, Gift Planning Maile Sagiao, Director, Human Resources Strategies Stefani Taylor, Manager, Recruitment Kay Linan Clark, Associate Director, Karen Duncan, Generalist, Human Resources Annual Giving Suzanne Gregory, Associate Director, PROGRAMMING & PRODUCTION Development Operations Limor Tomer, Vice President, Programming Johnny Eberhardt, Senior Manager, and Production Institutional Giving Chris Smith, Director, Production Emily Hunn, Senior Manager, Support Groups Stacey Myers, Manager, Attorney/Contracts Abigail Jimenez, Senior Manager, Priscilla Reyes, Manager, Community Board Relations Programming Bernadette Ramos, Senior Manager, Kelly Ornelas, Executive Assistant Donor Relations & Programming Coordinator Jamie Roff, Senior Manager, Development Systems
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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 Elena Hernandez, Specialist, Development Operations Erika Reed, Specialist, Development Systems Olivia Vezner, Specialist, Special Events Reina Pelky, Coordinator, Donor Relations Audrey Burton, Executive Assistant to Vice President & 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 Ivanna Tjitra, Graphic Designer I Susie Lopez, Specialist, Communications William Olivieri, Specialist, Marketing & Advertising Jacquelyn Pash, Specialist, Communications Diana Torres, Assistant, Group Sales Brooke Horn, Coordinator, Social Media MJ Salanga, Copywriter
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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
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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 Indicates years of service: 30+ 20+ 10+ Full-time staff as of Aug. 13, 2026
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32 SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS ®
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ANNOUNCING
2026-2027 SEASON
2026-2027 FULL CALENDAR
SEP
JAN
26 | DAVID BENOIT AND CÉCILIA TSAN
14 | SEONG-JIN CHO, PIANO
RESONANCE AND RENEWAL - WORLD PREMIERE
30 | FREE FAMILY CONCERT FEAT. OC YOUTH SYMPHONY
Local contractor licenses available at californiaclosets.com.
SEASON OPENER
OCT 03 | HĀLAU HULA LANI OLA
NOV 07 | BOB BAKER MARIONETTES 15 | ORANGE COUNTY YOUTH SYMPHONY FALL CONCERT 21 | RUCKUS FLY THE COOP 22 | PACIFIC SYMPHONY WITH ALEXANDER SHELLEY, cond.
DEC
06 | GEORGE LI, PIANO 15 | CELTIC CHRISTMAS
FEB
13 | MAVIS STAPLES 21 | ORANGE COUNTY YOUTH SYMPHONY WINTER CONCERT 25 | JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER WITH WYNTON MARSALIS 26 | DANISH STRING QUARTET
MAR 12 | CONRAD TAO AND ACADEMY OF ST MARTIN IN THE FIELDS 21 | PARNASSUS OPERA - LA BOHEME
APR
04 | JUDY COLLINS 11 | LOUIS LORTIE, PIANO 18 | PACIFIC SYMPHONY 24 | SERENADE TO MUSIC – CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF OCSA
E
Soka Performing Arts Center at Soka University of America
1 University Dr, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 | FREE PARKING
soka.edu/pac tickets@soka.edu 949-480-4278
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W H E N C A N C E R S H OWS U P, O U R 2 ,0 0 0 C A N C E R E XP E R T S S H OW U P ST R O N G E R Our only focus is curing cancer.
Angela, a motorcycle rider and rock climber, refused to let a cancer diagnosis slow her down. Today, Angela’s back to living life at full speed. As one of the nation’s largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations, our singular focus on cancer drives breakthrough discoveries, advanced treatments and outcomes that surpass national standards — bringing more victories to more patients worldwide.
Ending cancer starts with Hope © 2026 City of Hope
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Angela
City of Hope Patient
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