The Master Chorale of Orange County, formerly...

The Master Chorale of Orange County, formerly the Orange County Master Chorale, is changing its name again and will now be known as the William Hall Master Chorale, after the group’s director. Shortly after Hall came aboard in 1988, he merged it with his Pasadena-based group, the William Hall Chorale. “ ‘Orange County’ [in the group’s name] limited our ability to do certain things,” said the chorale’s administrative director, Sheri Shepherd. “When people hear of Orange County, and that you are based there, [the perception is that] you never leave, that you don’t do anything else.”

Speaking of which, unlike the Master Chorale of Orange County and Orange County Philharmonic Society--now the William Hall Master Chorale and Philharmonic Society of Orange County, respectively--Greg Patterson of the Orange County Performing Arts Center said the center has no plans to change its name.

Compiled by Ken Williams