St. Clair Takes No Position on Merger Plans

Pacific Symphony music director Carl St. Clair is taking no official stand on whether a merger with the Orange County Philharmonic Society is advisable because, he said last week, “although I am aware the discussions have been going on, I haven’t been that involved.”

But he did say that his “general feeling is that I’m very excited about any possible plan that could bring greater musical life into the Performing Arts Center and into people’s lives in Orange County.

“I think (the merger talks) demonstrate that people who support the arts in Orange County are serious when they say that they want the artistic quality of everything that goes into the Performing Arts Center to be of a renowned stature.”

Does St. Clair, as the public face of the Pacific Symphony, envision any conflict for a music director who might one day be asked to seek public support for his own orchestra as well as for those that are much older and more accomplished?

“No. The Chicago Symphony should come here--it has and it will. Why should that change? That’s part of being healthy, open-minded and enriching lives in as many ways as you can.”