Party Is Music to Chorale’s Ears

The Pacific Chorale celebrated its silver anniversary on Sunday by throwing a party for supporters of the arts in Orange County.

About 200 guests attended the 25th Anniversary Awards Dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach. The $150-per-person black tie gala netted a welcome anniversary present for the chorale: $15,000 in proceeds.

Singing Praises

Since its inception, the chorale has grown from 60 members to 197--”and 170 hopefully show up (in concert) and blow your socks off,” quipped Jay St. Clair, chairman of the chorale’s board of directors.

Led by artistic director John Alexander, the chorale now enjoys tours internationally and records, St. Clair said.

The chorale decided to mark its anniversary by thanking Orange County’s “Entrepreneurs in the Arts.”

“This goes beyond the Pacific Chorale; it goes to all the arts,” said Cornelia Mazer, who co-chaired the event with Mary Lyons.

Special tribute was paid to Roger and Janice Johnson, who received the Entrepreneurs in the Arts Lifetime Achievement Award for their contribution to the chorale and other causes.

“We’ve been very fortunate to have received a great deal from our country and the arts. It’s very critical that we give something back,” Roger Johnson said.

Janice Johnson explained why she supports the chorale: “I can’t imagine my life without music, especially singing,” she said. She met her husband when they both sang in a church choir.

High Notes

Awards were presented during dinner as guests sat at tables decorated with towering white and silver floral centerpieces.

The gourmet feast included smoked chicken and wild mushroom strudel in cilantro sauce, bibb lettuce and radicchio salad with ginger soy dressing and sauteed salmon on rice noodles in black sesame vinaigrette. For dessert, chefs prepared miniature anniversary cakes of flourless chocolate with white chocolate mousse and fresh raspberries.

Among those honored were Jan Landstrom, who received the Pacific Chorale Guild Premiere Chapter Award for her years of volunteer service to the chorale; Latham & Watkins, recipient of the Keynote Community Service Award; James Dunning, Rita Major and Thomas Moore, who received the Pacific Chorale Artist Council Awards; and Anne Nutt, former chairwoman of the chorale board, who received the Board of Directors Award.

“None of the arts organizations in Orange County would be where they are without volunteers,” said Bonnie McClain, executive director of the Pacific Chorale.

Also attending were Zee Allred, Bob and Catherine Break, Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach) and wife, Rebecca, Vesta Curry, Richard and Jolene Engel, Ed and Joann Halvajian, Susie and Dan Hernandez, Randy and Carole Johnson, Mike and Kathy Jones, Steve and Vicki Lupinacci, Ron and Kathy Merriman, Betsy Moulton, Maurice and Marcie Mulville, Tom and Marilyn Nielsen, Ed and Floss Schumacher, John and Elizabeth Stahr and Kent and Carol Wilken.