Pacific Symphony

Pacific Symphony’s mission is to perform inspiring, entertaining and healing music, connect
communities through diverse programming, inspire youth, provide therapeutic benefits and promote
the well-being of the people of Southern California.

Pacific Symphony was founded in 1978, through the passionate and dedicated support of the Orange County community. As the largest professional orchestra established in the US in the last 50 years, the Symphony serves more than 275,000 residents and visitors through concert performances and community engagement. The audience is comprised of individuals representing all age levels, genders, ethnic backgrounds and income levels. Some 50,000 community members from 300 regional organizations participate and benefit from the Symphony’s programs and outreach efforts every year. As an economic driver in the community, Pacific Symphony creates a framework and focal point of music programming for the county, while expanding its reach to those who are vulnerable and under-resourced. The orchestra provides in-classroom music education for K-8 students across the county through curriculum-based instruction from Symphony musicians. Violin lessons led by Symphony string players are also supplied for Title I students, as well as an arts immersion summer camp for middle school youth. A Family Musical Mornings concert series presents the full orchestra on Saturday mornings in presentations designed for young children and their families. The Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles offer performance opprotutnoies, training and coaching for grade 6-12 student musicians in four distinct ensembles: Youth Orchestra, Youth Wind Ensemble, Concert Band and Santiago Strings. The Symphony’s senior staff continually seek community partnerships in order to expand music activities and services for seniors, veterans, developmentally- and physically-challenged adults, children on the autism spectrum, students in under-resourced schools, disadvantaged residents and vulnerable citizens. A dedicated emphasis on the Symphony's mission has resulted in numerous major accomplishments achieved over a 47-year history.

The Symphony just announced a new artistic leader, Alexander Shelley, who will begin his tenure in 2025-26 as Music Director Designate, then begin his first full season as Artistic and Music Director in 2026-27. He is just the third Music Director of the orchestra during its 47-year history. Carl St.Clair celebrates his 35th year as Music Director in 2024-25 and will become Music Director Emeritus in 2025-26, returning to the concert hall at least once a season thereafter.

The annual season of Pacific Symphony consists of more than 100 concerts of classical, pops, chamber music, family presentations, youth and student performances, and celebratory cultural events to provide programs and services for the diverse, multicultural community of Orange County. The Symphony has a history of service to the region through education and community engagement initiatives and public concerts. The organization dedicates 10% of its annual operating budget - among the highest of any orchestra in America - to its education and community engagement programs each year. Its audience is comprised of local patrons, area visitors, subscribers, patrons, donors and residents of all ages – from infants to seniors. Patrons reside in all 34 cities of Orange County, as well as from across the Southern California region.

Pacific Symphony is approaching its 50th Anniversary in 2028 which is guided by a strategic plan to bolster its endowment. A Capital Campaign to boost the Symphony's endowment to $50 million by 2028 is underway with pledges of support and contributions from loyal, dedicated and generous donors.

In advancing its new strategic plan, greater national and international visibility for the orchestra is continuing, which began in earnest in 2018. During that year, Pacific Symphony made its invitational debut at Carnegie Hall in April, toured five metropolitan cities in China in May, and was seen on a nationally-televised concert on PBS' Great Performances in June 2018. This is a testament to the progress, advancement and success of highly-respected music organization, as very few American orchestras receive an invitation to appear at Carnegie Hall, and only a handful of orchestras are featured on PBS' Great Performances.

The administrative office is headquartered in Irvine at the Charlie and Ling Zhang Center for Music and Arts Education where it shares space with OC Music and Dance and Arts OC. 

As an Orange-County based arts non-profit, Pacific Symphony's ticket sales and earned income pay for less than half of its operating budget. The pandemic forced contributed income to account for more than 90% of all revenue, and severe losses to its endowment. It has since fully recovered after COVID closures with budget surpluses in FY21 through FY24 (its only shortfall happened in 2020 when all performances were forced to be cancelled).

The orchestra strives to be the arts institution to which Orange County can proudly claim as a beacon and catalyst of social, economic and cultural growth. With this objective in mind, the orchestra acknowledges the ever-present needs of under-served residents in the community as it plays a role in the betterment of the lives of disadvantaged citizens through the power of music. As Pacific Symphony increases its education and community programming through a long list of services and programs for the community, the organization seeks to provide activities and concerts which are motivating and inspiring for residents and visitors to Orange County. With this aim, the Symphony dedicates more than $2 million of its operations budget each year toward these programs to serve its constituency. Pacific Symphony works in tandem with school districts and community partners to improve the quality of life in the region, and to inspire those who live and visit the county. In order to maintain the high level of quality of its education and community programs, the Symphony seeks the support and partnership of foundations, corporations, local businesses and individuals.

While Pacific Symphony serves the entire Southern California region, it specifically focuses its services, through interactive arts education, music activities, special events, free community concerts and unique learning opportunities, to the residents within Orange County exclusively.