Pacific Chorale Announces 2017-2018 Season Under New Conductor

The Board of Directors of Pacific Chorale, the resident choir of Segerstrom Center for the Arts, has announced its 2017-2018 season, themed "What Inspires You?" under the baton of the organization's new incoming Artistic Director, Robert Istad, as the Chorale celebrates its 50th Anniversary Year.

Introducing Robert Istad
Robert Istad is no stranger to Pacific Chorale. He has served as Pacific Chorale's Assistant Conductor and ultimately as the Associate Conductor for a total of 13 years, and was a graduate student at California State University, Fullerton under the tutelage of Pacific Chorale's outgoing Artistic Director, John Alexander. He will continue in his role as Associate Professor of Music-Director of Choral Studies, CSUF. He will also be serving as the incoming President of the California Association of Choral Directors in his first year as Maestro of the Chorale.

Moving in New Directions
As part of its updated mission to inspire, innovate and educate, Istad will be bringing in a soon- to-be-announced new composer-in-residence, who will compose new chamber works and a symphonic work for the organization and also serve as an "Artistic Advisor" to the organization. The Chorale will also be performing, for the first time, at Carnegie Hall with Pacific Symphony Orchestra during its anniversary year.

The season schedule is as follows:

Pacific Chorale's Choral Festival
August 13, 2017
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
Pacific Chorale's Festival Chorus
David Clemensen and Jung-A Lee, piano
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana
Singer registration opens May 1st!
Concert is free to the public.

A 50th Anniversary Celebration
October 29, 2017
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
Pacific Chorale • Pacific Symphony
Derek Chester, tenor
Tarik O'Regan: A Celestial Map of the Sky (U.S. Premiere)
James Hopkins: Songs of Eternity
Leonard Bernstein: Mass

Carols by Candlelight
December 2, 2017
Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church
Members of Pacific Chorale

Tis the Season!
December 17 and 18, 2017
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
Pacific Chorale • Members of Pacific Symphony
Southern California Children's Chorus

St. John Passion
March 10, 2018
Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church
Pacific Chorale • Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra
Jon Lee Keenan, tenor
J.S. Bach: St. John Passion

Music of the Golden State
May 19, 2018
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall
Pacific Chorale
David Clemensen, piano • Jung-A Lee, piano and organ
Morten Lauridsen: Mid-Winter Songs
Mason Bates: Mass Transmission

The season pricing for subscription packages ranges from $60 to $465. For more information, call 714/662-2345.

ABOUT PACIFIC CHORALE

Pacific Chorale (PC) has delighted national and international audiences with concerts of great choral music performed at the highest musical standards since 1968. Under the artistic leadership of John Alexander, the organization produces a series of concerts each year at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, where it serves as the sole resident choir. The mission of Pacific Chorale is to enrich and educate the community by demonstrating outstanding leadership in the performance, creation and preservation of choral music.

Pacific Chorale is recognized for exceptional artistic expression, preserving and performing classical choral music as well as stimulating American-focused programming. Pacific Chorale presents a substantial performance season of its own and is sought regularly to perform with the nation's leading symphonies. Under the inspired guidance of Artistic Director John Alexander, Pacific Chorale has infused an Old World art form with California's hallmark innovation and cultural independence, developing innovative new concepts in programming, and expanding the traditional concepts of choral repertoire and performance. The organization boasts over 30 world premieres and has released 14 self-produced recordings.

In addition to its long-standing partnership with Pacific Symphony, the Chorale has performed with such renowned American ensembles as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the National Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, and Musica Angelica.

Pacific Chorale has toured extensively to over 19 countries - in Europe, South America and Asia - and has collaborated with the London Symphony, the Munich Symphony, L'Orchestre Lamoureux and L'Orchestre de St-Louis-en-l'Île of Paris, the National Orchestra of Belgium, the China National Symphony, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, the Estonian National Symphony, and the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional of Argentina.