Pacific Symphony values diversity in its workforce and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, class, religion, country of origin, political belief, (dis)ability, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or any factor protected by law.
Described as a "major ensemble" by The New York Times after its successful debut at Carnegie Hall, Pacific Symphony has achieved significant stature in its 43-year history. Comprised of gifted musicians, Pacific Symphony has been led by Music Director Carl St.Clair. Together they have built a reputation for artistic innovation, thematic programming, and theatrically infused concerts which results in a loyal audience.
Pacific Symphony is developing an international reputation having successfully toured major European musical capitals as well as those in China, but its primary focus is serving the 34 cities comprising Orange County. Resident at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Pacific Symphony performs over 100 concerts and thousands of educational activities each year. Tens of thousands of listeners enjoy Pacific Symphony at no cost through digital offerings and free access offered to beneficiaries of numerous non-profit partnerships. It sponsors three nationally recognized youth ensembles and offers a large in-school residence program called Class Act. Pacific Symphony is known for its long-standing commitment to contemporary American composers and has recorded numerous new commissions and been featured on PBS Great Performances. It celebrates cultural heritage in Orange County and collaborates with musicians from many different traditions.
Pacific Symphony, led by Music Director Carl St.Clair, has been the resident orchestra of the Reneé and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, California for the past sixteen years. Currently in its 44th season, Pacific Symphony is the largest orchestra formed in the United States in the last 50 years and is recognized as an outstanding ensemble making strides on both the national and international scene, as well as in its own community of Orange County, California.
In April 2018, Pacific Symphony made its Carnegie Hall debut as one of two orchestras invited to perform during a yearlong celebration of composer Philip Glass’ 80th birthday, and the following month the orchestra embarked on a successful tour of mainland China. The orchestra made its national PBS debut in June 2018 on Great Performances with Peter Boyer’s Ellis Island: The Dream of America, conducted by St.Clair. Presenting more than 100 concerts and events each year and a rich array of education and community engagement programs, the Symphony reaches more than 300,000 residents from school children to senior citizens. In addition to a classical orchestral concert series, Pacific Symphony also offers a Pops season enhanced by state-of-the-art video and sound; Café Ludwig, a chamber music series curated by Orli Shaham; an educational Family Musical Mornings series; and Sunday Matinées, offering rich explorations of selected orchestral works led by St.Clair. The Symphony’s highly successful opera initiative, Symphonic Voices, presents operas in which the orchestra and singers share the stage. In April 2022 the orchestra performed Verdi’s Otello. The Symphony has a long partnership with the Pacific Chorale and performs with touring ballet companies including the American Ballet Theatre in its annual production of The Nutcracker.
The orchestra was founded in 1978 as a collaboration between California State University, Fullerton and North Orange County community leaders. It wasn’t until September 1986 that the Symphony found a home in the newly built Orange County Performing Arts Center (now the Segerstrom Center for the Arts). In 2006, the Symphony made its first highly acclaimed European tour, performing in nine cities in three countries. Just months later, the orchestra inaugurated its current home, the Reneé and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, with striking architecture by Cesar Pelli and acoustics by Russell Johnson. In the summer, the Symphony presents a concert series as well as a series of free, family-oriented concerts at parks around Orange County.
Pacific Symphony has commissioned and recorded major works by many of the leading composers of our time, including Philip Glass (The Passion of Ramakrishna), William Bolcom (Songs of Lorca and Songs of Innocence and Experience), Richard Danielpour (An American Requiem and Toward a Season of Peace), Michael Dougherty (Mount Rushmore and The Gospel According to Sister Aimee), and Elliot Goldenthal (Symphony in G-sharp Minor and Fire Water Paper: A Vietnam Oratorio featuring soloist Yo-Yo Ma). Other collaborations have included composers Daniel Catán, Paul Chihara, Lukas Foss, James Newton Howard, William Kraft, Ana Lara, Tobias Picker, Narong Prangcharoen, Toru Takemitsu, Conrad Tao, Christopher Theofanidis, Frank Ticheli, and Chen Yi.
Pacific Symphony has one of the most extensive education and community engagement programs in the country, striving to integrate the orchestra and its music into the community in ways that stimulate participants of all ages. The Symphony’s Class Act program provides elementary school classroom lessons by individual orchestra members as well as performances of the full orchestra and has been honored as one of nine exemplary orchestra education programs by the National Endowment for the Arts and the League of American Orchestras. Instrumental training initiatives include a youth orchestra, youth wind ensemble, several youth string ensembles, and the OC Can You Play With US? events for adult amateur musicians. In addition, the Symphony partners with ethnic communities in Orange County to produce annual events such as a Lunar New Year Festival and Nowruz (Persian New Year) Festival.
Pacific Symphony has twice been awarded the prestigious ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming and was featured in Fearless Journeys, a 2010 study by the League of American Orchestras, as one of the country’s five most innovative orchestras.
Pacific Symphony welcomes and encourages candidates from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, class, religion, country of origin, political belief, (dis)ability, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or any factor protected by law.
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL CELLO AUDITION: February 15, 2023
Assistant Principal Cello Application
Assistant Principal Cello Repertoire
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL VIOLA AUDITION: FEBRUARY 16, 2023
Assistant Principal Viola Application
Assistant Principal Viola Repertoire
SECTION VIOLA AUDITION: FEBRUARY 17 & 18, 2023
Section Viola Application
Section Viola Repertoire
COVID Protocols:
In accordance with Pacific Symphony’s COVID policy, you must be able to show proof of being fully vaccinated to participate in these auditions. You are considered “fully vaccinated” at least 14 days after a single dose vaccine or 14 days after the second dose of a two-dose vaccine. Additionally, you must show proof of booster vaccination.
For further information on the venue and hotel accommodations, please go to:
https://ps.opas-online.com
User: Substitute
Password: Beethoven1770
Folder: AUDITIONS
THE ABOVE SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. Please do not call or email to request special times. Any changes in the schedule and the exact times of auditions will be sent only to those musicians who have sent in resume, check, application, and proof of vaccination and booster. Preliminary and final auditions are held behind a screen to preserve the anonymity of all candidates throughout the audition process. Pacific Symphony members auditioning for a higher ranked chair are automatically advanced to the finals. However, Pacific Symphony members must audition behind a screen, remaining anonymous throughout the audition process in the same manner as any other individual auditioning. Should a member of Pacific Symphony win one of the above positions, that member's chair may become vacant immediately. If the member's previous chair does become vacant, the committee may elect to fill the newly vacant position during these auditions.
Thank you for your interest in Pacific Symphony.
The Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with Pacific Symphony in the search for a Vice President of Marketing and Communications.
The Vice President of Marketing and Communications will be an exceptional leader and communicator who demonstrates creativity, curiosity, and optimism, and inspires fellow team members to achieve common goals and exceed expectations. The Vice President will deepen relations with audiences and community members through best-in-class sales, marketing, and engagement strategies designed to drive audience development and exceed the Symphony’s overall earned revenue goals. These institutional goals will maximize total household participation and revenue through coordinated communication, recognition, and patron engagement tactics. The Vice President will support all branding, communications, and public relations needs for the organization, and in partnership with senior leadership, the Vice President will implement strategies to expand total patron revenue by supporting philanthropic messaging, loyalty initiatives, direct mail, and digital campaigns.
Vice President of Marketing & Communications - Prospectus
Application Instructions
All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of Pacific Symphony as well as the responsibilities and qualifications stated in the prospectus. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the successful candidate has been selected.
To apply for this position, visit:
Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Pacific Symphony
To nominate a candidate, please contact Anne Johnson: annejohnson@aspenleadershipgroup.com.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Director of Individual Giving is an important member of the Development team, reporting to the Senior Director of Major Gifts. This highly adaptive team member is responsible for annual fundraising strategies to grow the Annual Fund and promote the Governing Members donor program (donors of $2,500+). Additional emphasis will be focused on endowment campaigns and legacy giving.
Director of Individual Giving - Job Description - Updated 1-1-2023
TO APPLY
Please email cover letter and resume to
We are now accepting applications for Pacific Symphony Internship positions. Interns are welcome to work with staff in many areas of the Symphony, such as Business Administration, Education, Events Management, Finance, Human Resources, IT/Tech, Marketing, Social Media, Volunteer Services and more. Please submit a resume and complete the online application.
The resume should be sent to volunteerservices@PacificSymphony.org.
Learn more about internships with Pacific Symphony.
Complete the online application here.
For questions, please contact:
Abby Edmunds
Volunteer Services
(714) 876-2353
VolunteerServices@PacificSymphony.org
Volunteer positions are available in the following areas:
For questions, please contact:
Abby Edmunds
Volunteer Services
(714) 876-2353
VolunteerServices@PacificSymphony.org
We will be happy to tell you about our volunteer opportunities.