The Pacific Symphony Orchestra

About

The Orchestra's primary concert venue is the acclaimed Orange County Performing Arts Center, where each year it plays more often than any other group, giving more than 50 of its own concerts as well as performing with the Pacific Chorale and serving as pit orchestra for The Center's international ballet series.

Under the artistic supervision of Music Director Carl St.Clair, the PSO's own series at The Center offers music for every taste and audience: great classical masterworks with some of the world's outstanding soloists; Pops concerts headlined by the brightest stars in entertainment today; Saturday morning concerts for children and parents, and annual holiday performances of Handel's Messiah.

Now the third largest orchestra in California, the Pacific Symphony Orchestra is dedicated to education and community outreach, providing 20 different programs to serve Orange County Residents. The Pacific Symphony Institute at California State University offers, without charge, an unparalleled opportunity for young musicians, ages 16 to 30, through a training orchestra, masterclasses with visiting guest artists and career preparation seminars. The Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra at the Orange County High School of the Arts develops the musical talents of high school musicians through orchestral training and coaching sessions.

Dedicated to the performance of music by living American composers in addition to performing works of the great masters, the PSO has commissioned a number of orchestral compositions, including works from William Kraft and the PSO's Composer-in-Residence, Frank Ticheli. The Orchestra has given West Coast and Southern California premieres of works by noted American composer John Corigliano. Carl St Clair and the PSO, along with cellist Yo-Yo Ma, have recorded Elliot Goldenthal's Fire Water Paper: A Vietnam Oratorio for Sony Classical. The PSO will record a compact disc featuring the works fo Japan's leading composer, Toru Takemitsu, with the percussion ensemble, Nexus, to be released by Sony Classical in February 1998.

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