ORANGE COUNTY CHORALE, JOFFREY DATE SCHEDULED

The Master Chorale of Orange County will present a joint performance with members of the Joffrey Ballet on Oct. 12 as part of the chorale’s four-concert season at the new Orange County Performing Arts Center, chorale and center officials announced Wednesday.

The program, chorale officials said, is to feature two pieces for chorale and dancers, including “Passage” by 16th- Century composer Thomas Tallis, and would involve “six or more” Joffrey dancers. This appearance represents the first by a dance troupe at the center, whose 3,000-seat multipurpose theater will open Sept. 29 with Zubin Mehta and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

American Ballet Theatre has already been announced for a Dec. 9-14 “The Nutcracker” engagement, while the New York City Ballet is expected to perform Oct. 15-19 at the new complex in Costa Mesa.

According to both center and Joffrey Ballet officials, talks also are continuing for a possible appearance by the full Joffrey Ballet during the 1986-’87 season.

The company is also negotiating with the Master Chorale for a possible collaboration in April 1987 in a concert that could feature a commissioned work, said Maurice Allard, the chorale’s music director.

The rest of the 1986-87 schedule at the center for the 115-voice chorale: --A Christmas concert Dec. 7 featuring a commissioned work by John Rutter, plus traditional holiday song favorites.

--A dramatic version April 11, 1987 of Bach’s “St. Matthew” Passion, staged by Clayton Garrison.

--A “Pops Celebration” June 6 and 7, l987.

Soloists are to be announced later, said Allard, adding that each concert will have full orchestral backing.