1990 ORANGE COUNTY : Depth of Commitment to Be Measured : CLASSICAL MUSIC

The decade of the ‘90s will be “the decade of professional growth,” says Pacific Chorale music director John Alexander. But Alexander and others in the Orange County music scene who voice the same opinion are only cautiously optimistic.

Among other issues they cite is the continued competition between the local groups for audiences and financial support.

“The traditional audience definitely will be fought over,” says Philharmonic Society Executive Director Erich Vollmer. “The groups most aggressive in appealing to new markets will be the groups most likely to do the best.”

Those new markets could be the multicultural communities in the county.

“We could start to make some progress to find new audiences to replace subscribers who are dying off, with more emphasis on ethnic presentations,” Vollmer says. “Then again, I’m not so naive to think that just because you put (ethnic presentations) on the bill, that will bring the people. Our marketing techniques have to reach into that community.”

Everyone agrees that arts education programs in the schools is another critical issue.

Those programs have “suffered dramatically,” says Master Chorale music director William Hall, “which means we may suffer dramatically in the next 25 years, because that’s where our audience might come from.”

But Hall feels that Orange County will suffer less than other communities because of the large numbers of people still moving into the county.

Opera Pacific general director David DiChiera thinks that the competition will be less between cultural organizations than “from a growing demand in the ‘90s for other social and health services.

“I think that the real danger may be an overwhelming need for services in those areas. At times that may tend to overshadow also the absolutely essential need of (arts) institutions to be supportive and be able to thrive in the community.”

Pacific Symphony Executive Director Louis G. Spisto remains hopeful, however. “People are trying to fill their lives with more meaning,” he says. “More and more, these individuals are looking for something that can provide some meaning, some sustenance other than the 9-to-5, make-a-buck world can. That might be real positive for the arts.”