Pacific Chorale Names New President/CEO

Pacific Chorale has named Elizabeth Pearson, a veteran Orange County marketer and fundraiser, as the new Chief Executive for the organization. Pearson will be assuming the role that was recently vacated by the Chorale's previous President, Kelly Ruggirello, when she stepped down to become the Executive Director of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra.

            "After an extensive search, we are delighted to have been able to recruit Elizabeth," said Martin Hubbard, Chairman of the Pacific Chorale Board of Directors.  "We believe she will be able to create a greater awareness of our organization and help us attract new audiences who will delight in our classical choral music performances."

            Pearson, who joins the 45-year-old non-profit after having served as the Director of Development for the Laguna Playhouse, stated, "This is an exciting move for me.  As someone who appreciates classical music, I am looking forward to building greater support for this internationally renowned organization.  I believe this presents a growth opportunity both for the Chorale and for me."

            Bringing over ten years of fundraising experience and over twenty years of marketing experience to Pacific Chorale, Pearson previously owned a consultancy business specializing in marketing, PR and fundraising for fifteen years.  She served as the Foundation Executive Director and Marketing Director of South Coast Medical Center and helped to raise funds as a consultant for numerous Orange County organizations including the Rancho Santa Margarita Community Center, the Laguna Beach Boys and Girls Club, the Laguna Beach Seniors, and the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association.  Elizabeth is also a current member of the Laguna Beach City Council and has served as a three-time Mayor for the City. She is known in her community as being a strong advocate for the arts, serving currently on both the Laguna Beach Live! and Laguna Plein Air Painters Association Board of Trustees - and previously on the Board of the Laguna Art Museum. She graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in Business Administration from Baldwin Wallace College (Cleveland, Ohio) with a Major in Marketing.

            Pacific Chorale Artistic Director John Alexander added, "In my first meeting with Elizabeth a few weeks ago, I was thrilled to discover an energetic, exciting, and charismatic personality with all of the traits of a highly successful leader.  Her extensive experience in administrative leadership, fundraising and marketing, is a perfect match for the needs of our organization at this time. I very much look forward to beginning our work together to further the artistic mission of Pacific Chorale, and bringing the organization to an exciting new level in our evolution."

Tom Bradac Retires from Shakespeare Orange County

"Ending a 34-year run that made him one of the longest-tenured artistic directors on the Southern California theater scene, Thomas F. Bradac has announced he'll retire as leader of Shakespeare Orange County after its coming two-play summer season at the 550-seat Festival Amphitheater in Garden Grove.

The company's future is uncertain, with no immediate plan for replacing the 65-year-old Bradac. Its board chair, Roland Bye, said Wednesday that he'll end his own involvement because "I'm not interested in keeping Shakespeare Orange County going without Tom."  Read more here in the LA Times article.