Pacific Chorale Information

The Grammy Award-winning PACIFIC CHORALE, an Orange County “treasure” with a “fresh viewpoint” that “can sing anything you put in front of it with polish, poise and tonal splendor” (Orange County Register), has “risen to national prominence” (Los Angeles Times) since its inception in 1968. Hailed for delivering “thrilling entertainment” (Voice of OC), the resident choir at Segerstrom Center for the Arts is noted for its artistic innovation and commitment to expanding the choral repertoire. Deeply committed to making choral music accessible to people of all ages, the organization has a discography of 14 self-produced recordings and an extensive collection of exceptional free digital offerings. An internationally known arts organization with an annual budget that is in the top ten of choral organizations in the nation, Pacific Chorale has been recognized for its innovative music and education programming and is the recipient of numerous awards for artistic and educational excellence. Pacific Chorale is admired for championing American composers by commissioning new musical works and has built a reputation in the United States and abroad through its many international tours. Under the artistic direction of Robert Istad, Pacific Chorale is a national leader in community outreach and education initiatives, with education being central to our core mission. Our education programs serve primarily at-risk, disadvantaged and low-to-middle income families, using the hands-on discipline and participatory aspect of choral music performance to build cognitive skills and individual self-esteem.