Meet Our Volunteers & Interns
Corinne Akahoshi Named 2026 Volunteer of the Year
Pacific Symphony is proud to announce that our 2026 Volunteer of the Year is Corinne Akahoshi! Corinne Akahoshi joined the Pacific Symphony as a volunteer in 2016 and in 2021 became a member of the Symphony’s premier volunteer support group, The League. Over the past five years, Corinne has poured her heart into the Symphony, serving with distinction as a general volunteer, a League Social Media officer and, finally, as the League’s President for the past three years. Under her visionary leadership, the League has flourished! Corinne has been instrumental in expanding the League’s reach, especially regarding the Symphony Shop located in the concert hall. Her efforts to “reimagine” the League Shop have given a face to the Shop leads and volunteers who welcome every guest with a genuine and heartfelt smile. Shop productivity has increased along with a wealth of new interest from our patrons.
Beyond her administrative excellence, Corinne is known for her warmth, her ability to inspire fellow volunteers, and her tireless advocacy for community endeavors. Her commitment to excellence is evident in her service to other organizations, including serving as a Board member for “Rebuilding Together,” which focuses on revitalizing the community after facing natural disasters, and her service as Family Selection Co-Chair for “Habitat for Humanity.”
Corinne’s dedication, compassion, and willingness to serve others through countless hours of hard work, kindness, and commitment have made a lasting impact on the community and inspire those around her daily. We are recognizing Corinne for her selfless spirit, graceful leadership, and unwavering belief in the transformative power of music.
Alexander Shelley, Corinne Akahashi, Abby Edmunds
Corinne Akahashi
Corinne grew up in New Jersey and has two siblings; both her sister and brother are retired, her brother from the U.S Navy. Her father was a World War II veteran and part of the legendary 100th Infantry Battalion, also nicknamed “The Purple Heart Battalion.” Corinne has also volunteered for the “Go for Broke National Education Center” in Los Angeles, which is a non-profit that explores the legacy of Japanese American WWII veterans through exhibitions and educational programs and at one point she served as a Governing Member.
She attended school at Allegheny College in Northwestern Pennsylvania and graduated with a degree in Political Science. During her undergraduate studies, she became a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and currently serves as the Alumnae Chapter President of South OC. She then went on to pursue an MBA at University Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business and worked at Toyota as a Senior Manager for three decades while residing mostly in CA and TX. She currently resides in Mission Viejo with her husband Dan, and in 2002 she was a torch runner for the Salt Lake Olympics. She has a rescued Weimaraner named Rex and enjoys traveling, having visited six continents to date. She has become a dedicated community leader whose passion for the arts has left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of Orange County, and we are delighted to honor Corinne Akahoshi as our Volunteer of the Year.