Pacific Symphony to Back Up Mannheim Steamroller in Irvine

The Pacific Symphony will back Mannheim Steamroller, a five-member group that combines rock, pop, classical and Muzak influences, at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre June 23. Chip Davis, Mannheim’s founder, drummer and leader, will conduct.

It’s a departure for the 11-year-old orchestra, which normally plays straight classical and light pops fare, but its director of marketing, John MacElwee, said he does not think the booking is a sign of things to come.

“It’s basically an orchestra-for-hire situation,” MacElwee said Friday. The Pacific was booked through Avalon Attractions, which manages the amphitheater, and “as in any kind of a booking situation, when they called the Pacific Symphony and hired the entire orchestra, they need to use our name,” MacElwee said.

“We have a fairly high amount of contract services through the (Orange County Performing Arts) Center,” he continued. “So we’re used to utilizing the orchestra for contracted services. But we have a good mix (at the Center) right now.”

The members of Mannheim Steamroller play everything from lutes, harpsichords and recorders to synthesizers, electronic percussion and digital samplers. The group often performs with pit bands or orchestras. The Irvine Meadows show will be its only Southern California performance.

Meanwhile, the Pacific Symphony will give two free concerts for selected Orange County high school students Monday at Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton. Attendance is being determined by individual school districts. Lucas Richman will conduct music by Vivaldi, Handel, Mozart, Mendelssohn and other composers. The concerts are being sponsored by Pacific Telesis Foundation and the California Community Foundation.