The Crowd:

The holidays were filled with music on the Orange Coast. The Pacific Chorale, under the artistic direction of John AlexanderJohn Alexander, presented their spectacular concert and dinner event at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, netting an impressive $115,000 for the Pacific Chorale.

The annual Christmas fundraising gala is known as A Dickens Feast, and begins with the Pacific Chorale’s annual holiday concert “Tis The Season!” at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Following the spirited musical event, donors walked the red carpet to the Center Club for a fabulous dinner party. Chaired by John and Lori Loftus, more than 200 guests dressed in their holiday best were greeted by a chorus of 49 singers from the Southern California Children’s Intermediate Chorus, conducted by Betsey Olson. Dinner at the Center Club prepared by chef Bruno Massuger, followed English tradition beginning with lentil soup, an entree of braised short ribs with roasted winter vegetables, and English trifle for dessert.

Pacific Chorale President Kelly Ruggirello, and board chairwoman Kimberly Bernatz, welcomed the holiday revelers, including dedicated Chorale supporters Phil and Mary Lyons, Martin and Margie Hubbard, John and Elizabeth Stahr, Janice Johnson, and Sally Anderson and Tom Rogers. Also present were Margaret and Larry Gates, Elaine and Hunter Keck, Bill and Bobbitt Williams, Jan Landstrom, and the highly respected Judy Morr, of the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Across town another musical event brought together the children and families of California Elementary School performing a festive Christmas program under the direction of Nicholas St. Royal, the school’s music teacher. St. Royal gathered the faculty and staff and taught them all how to play Suzuki hand bells at the concert, which was billed as “Deck The Halls.” The faculty and staff were joined by students also performing hand bells and singing their hearts out.

California School Principal Kelli Smith welcomed the enthusiastic crowd, including parents such as Donna Swift whose child, Hannah Swift, is a sixth-grader who played the clarinet in the show. Other students were showcased on a variety of instruments, performing holiday music on the tambourine, recorder, trumpet and clarinet. Some of the teachers deserving recognition include Sam Ung, Cindy Ronquillo, Marianne Rozar, Sharon Bercaw, Lindsay Messner, Brian Hall, and Jennifer Glenn.

THE CROWD

runs Thursdays and Saturdays.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.