Pacific Symphony Supporter, Michael Kerr, Appointed Chairman of Board

Longtime Pacific Symphony supporter Michael Kerr has been appointed chairman of the Symphony's board of directors-a role that began July 1. Kerr succeeds Sally Anderson, who served for the past four years and who continues serving as immediate past chairman. Kerr has been a Pacific Symphony subscriber since the opening of Segerstrom Center for the Arts in 1986 and has been serving on the Symphony's board for the past 10 years. He was invited to join the board after he commissioned a piece of music by Tobias Picker for the orchestra that was performed for his wife's 40th birthday. In addition to his involvement on multiple committees and his strong attachment to education and community engagement programming, Kerr founded the Pacific Coast Wine Festival, an annual fund-raiser that has brought in more than $800,000 during the past six years.

"I decided to accept the chairman position because I believe I can help to continue Pacific Symphony's wonderful traditions of great music and community engagement," says Kerr. "Music is a universal language that can build bridges and unite all of the corners of Orange County. I want to help the Symphony to become a community-building organization using classical music as our vehicle. I hope to continue the amazing work that has been accomplished by staff and our board of directors, and I want to make sure that we give our fabulous music director, Carl St.Clair, all of the tools he needs to continue making great music.

"I thank the board for their confidence in selecting me to lead Pacific Symphony, and I look forward to a bright musical future for our community."

Kerr is president and co-founder of Bluestone Communities. Founded in 2000, Bluestone is a privately held real estate company, primarily engaged in the development of land parcels for residential and mixed uses in Southern California. Bluestone also builds, owns and manages multi-family communities which are held as long-term investments.

Prior to Bluestone, Kerr held a variety of executive positions with public and private real estate companies including Polygon, the Westport Group, Arnel Development and Realty Business Group. Kerr was also an officer of Shearson Lehman/American Express, with real estate and securities activities. Before embarking on his real estate career, Kerr was a transactions attorney for the Orange County law firm of Rhodes, Kendall & Harrington.

Kerr's education includes a Juris Doctor and Masters of Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley, a Bachelor of Arts from Pomona College, and studies at University College, Oxford, England. Kerr has been a lecturer on entrepreneurship topics, and a judge for the Business Plan Competitions held annually by the University of California, Irvine and the University of California, Los Angeles.

Kerr is active in a variety of community and civic organizations. As well as serving as the chairman of the board for Pacific Symphony, he also serves on the board of directors for the Irvine Barclay Theater and on the advisory board of Think Together. He has held past board positions with the Defense Orientation Conference Association and the Fender Center for the Performing Arts.

Kerr and his wife Kari have two children, Andrew, 21, and Jacqueline, 19. Outside of professional interests, he travels widely, and plays golf and competitive bridge.

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