Pacific Symphony
PROGRAMS
Frieda Belinfante Class Act Music Education
Celebrating 32 years of community service for schools and districts in Orange County, the Frieda Belinfante Class Act music education program is an award-winning initiative offered to all public, private, parochial and charter schools in Orange County. Up to 25 elementary schools each year partner with a Symphony musician who provides in-classroom music workshops aligned with Common Core and VAPA education standards. Classroom teachers are provided with professional development, training and lesson plans to augment the workshops and aid in their own music education beyond the scope of the program. Musicians perform in Family Night concerts onsite and at the end of the year, every grade 2-8 student is bused to the Rènee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall for a full performance by Pacific Symphony. As a culminating activity, Bravo Assemblies allow students to showcase what they have learned during the year through creative expression in song, dance, music, theater and visual arts presentations. The program features interactive music education activities, which include: 1) Prelude Assemblies: attended by the school’s entire student body and hosted by a professional storyteller; 2) Classroom Lessons: taught by Symphony musicians for each grade level; 3) Family Night Performances: presented at each school by a Symphony ensemble led by classroom musicians playing their own instruments; 4) Youth Concerts: offering dynamic free performances by the full Symphony at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall; 5) Bravo Assemblies: concluding the program year and featuring what students learned during in Class Act through creative arts presentations.
The overall program goals of Class Act are to:
1) enrich the quality of music learning in schools;
2) develop student appreciation for symphonic music;
3) encourage lifelong learning through the arts;
4) connect the Symphony more closely with schools and their communities; and
5) provide professional development opportunities for teachers.
Heartstrings Access for Underserved Residents
Pacific Symphony’s Heartstrings community engagement initiative is the orchestra’s most responsive and transformative music involvement program serving more than 10,000 under-represented, under-resourced and vulnerable. residents. Heartstrings provides more than 10,000 free concert tickets each year for the clients, caregivers, families and members of the 45 Heartstrings community partners. Bus transportation is also supplied for select agencies. In 2025-26, a total of 10,105 residents attended 46 selected concerts that included classical, pops, chamber, family and summer performances.
The key focus for Heartstrings is to provide those with limited or no access to live music and participatory arts activities with unduplicated music engagement programs.
Measures for success include: 1) a high level of engagement; 2) demonstrated
enthusiasm for music; 3) achievement of learning, education or engagement objectives; and 4) a high level of satisfaction from all participants. Quantitative and qualitative data and stories are collected in order to meet these areas of accountability and to measure progress towards achieving goals.
Artistic Excellence in Music Performances
Pacific Symphony presents more than 100 performances each year to some 275,000 community members in venues throughout the county. The Symphony consists of 88 musicians led by Artistic & Music Director Alexander Shelley. Every season, the Symphony presents concerts that include classical, pops, family programs, semi-staged opera presentations and an outdoor summer series. Programming also includes chamber music concerts on Sunday afternoons, three youth ensembles for middle and high school students, three or more Symphony in the Cities summer public park concerts, and a concert series at SOKA Performing Arts Center in Aliso Viejo.
At the core of every great orchestra is a commitment to artistic excellence. Pacific Symphony is dedicated to making great music and to providing audiences with exceptional performances by the highest-caliber musicians. To continue providing concert experiences at the current level and work toward an even greater artistic reputation we must make significant investments in the programs and people that will ensure the ongoing excellence of our musicality.
Funds raised will: 1) invest in professional musicians, 2) create distinguished guest artist and guest conductor funds to ensure the Symphony presents the world's great artists; 3) preserve the Summer Festival - a five-concert outdoor series; 4) funds an annual semi-staged opera; and 5) presents naming opportunities at its new headquarters in Irvine.
Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles (PSYE)
Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles (PSYE) are premier performance programs, nurturing and inspiring young artists in grades 6-12. PSYE consists of four performing ensembles, all benefiting from the artistic vision of Pacific Symphony Artistic & Music Director Alexander Shelley. Students representing 80 area middle and high schools enjoy a variety of interactions with Symphony musicians including sectional coaching, master classes and side-by-side performances. The ensembles are: Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings, providing string musicians in grades 6-9 with quality string and performance instruction; led by Dr. Johanna Gamboa-Kroesen. Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, led by Pacific Symphony's Assistant Conductor (currently vacant), the orchestra provides more than 100 string, wind and percussion musicians in grades 9-12 with intense orchestral training. Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble offers wind and percussion musicians in grades 9-12 opportunities to refine their skills in an innovative wind symphony environment; led by Dr. Gregory X. Whitmore. Pacific Symphony Youth Concert Band, led by Music Director Angela Woo. This ensemble provides musical training and performance opportunities for brass, woodwind and percussion instrumentalists in grades 6-9.
PSYE recently set new participant records, attesting to the public demand and popularity of the program. As musician numbers grow, so too will the ensembles themselves, with auxiliary groups forming as well. Students who participate in PSYE gain rare musical opportunities with leading artists as well as advancement in their academic careers. All middle and high school students enrolled in the youth ensembles go on to graduate from high school and attend university. Alumni of recent PSYE graduates have gone on to such prestigious higher education institutions as Harvard, New York University, Juiliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Stanford, USC and UCLA. As part of PSYE’s long-term strategic plan, financial stability must first be established before growth can be implemented. Therefore contributions are sought in order to pursue PSYE’s plan for further expansion.
Savanna Strings
The Savanna Strings Instrumental Music Program includes instruction for students in grades 1-6 at the Savanna Elementary School District of Anaheim on stringed musical instruments. This program features the participation of Pacific Symphony union musicians providing rare and meaningful opportunities for schoolchildren to learn from professional teaching artists.
1) Grade 1-6 students will receive music instruction through weekly lessons, musical activities and training over 28 weeks.
2) Students will play a varied repertoire of music through both small and large ensemble work (aligning with VAPA and education standards).
3) Students will read, notate, listen to, analyze and describe music and other aural information using the terminology of music (aligning with education standards).
4) Students will exhibit acquisition of improved skills such as problem solving, teamwork, self-discipline, perseverance, self-esteem, critical thinking, and an ability to set and achieve goals.
5) An increased number of students will enroll and/or continue their participation in school or community music programs.
CONTACT
Pacific Symphony
17620 Fitch
Suite 100
IRVINE, CA 92614
Luisa Cariaga
Phone: 714-876-2369