Pacific Symphony Volunteers Spread Holiday Cheer!

As the year draws to a close, we’d like to take a moment to thank our wonderful Symphony volunteers who do so much day in and day out throughout the year. Pacific Symphony is grateful for the incredible creativity and hard work of all our volunteers. They are in the concert hall at all Symphony concerts. You can see them working at the Symphony Shop or greeting audience members at the welcome table near the entrance to the hall. The volunteers have been particularly busy during December—both at concerts and in the community.

Our volunteers recently participated in the 36th Annual Children’s Christmas Celebration for underserved and ill children by wrapping 300 colorful gifts. The Dec. 3 event was hosted by lifestyle designer Kathy Ireland along with Athletes & Entertainers for Kids at the Second Harvest Food Back of Orange County in Irvine. The volunteers wrapped 300 colorful gifts while Pacific Symphony violinists Agnes Gottschewski and Jennise Hwang serenaded them with live holiday music. And 271 happy Heartstrings guests attended the event.

On Dec. 4, Symphony volunteers headed over to the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana to help out from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the KUSC Classical California Kids Discovery Day. The interactive event featured kid-friendly activities, live performances, and more. In addition to the Symphony volunteers, the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra was warmly received, performing to the enthusiastic applause of the audience. That same day, Symphony volunteers were also out in full force for the afternoon performance of Handel’s Messiah.

Collecting toys for the homeless is an activity that Symphony volunteers will also be involved in. They’ll be partnering with the Festival of Children Foundation through “Sharing the Holiday Spirit,” collecting toys and helping to provide a sense of normalcy for families and children without permanent housing. Some of the local nonprofit organizations who have children participating are our Heartstrings partners including: Project Youth, Share Our Selves, OC Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center, Thomas House Family Shelter, and Project Hope Alliance. The children will receive their gifts on Saturday, Dec. 10.

The next time you attend a concert, be sure to stop by the welcome table and thank the volunteers for all that they do!

If you are interested in volunteering, reach out to the Symphony’s Director of Volunteer Services, Abby Edmunds at aedmunds@pacificsymphony.org. You can read more about volunteering at Pacific Symphony here!