John Alexander

John Alexander is the Artistic Director Emeritus of Pacific Chorale in Orange County, California. He served as the ensemble’s Artistic Director and Conductor from 1972 to 2017. Under his leadership, Pacific Chorale grew to become one of the foremost symphonic choirs in the nation. Since 2006, the Chorale has served as the professional resident choir at the Segerstrom Center of the Arts in Orange County, collaborating regularly with its sister organization, the Pacific Symphony. During Alexander’s tenure, Pacific Chorale toured extensively in the United States, Europe, Asia and South America, and produced numerous world premiere recordings of works by composers such as Frank Ticheli, Jake Heggie, Stephen Paulus, James Hopkins, Morten Lauridsen, Richard Danielpour, Philip Glass, William Bolcom, and Eric Goldenthal. 

As a specialist in the choral/orchestral repertoire, Alexander’s long and distinguished conducting career has encompassed taking the podium for hundreds of professional choral/orchestral performances, recordings and premieres around the globe. Alexander is equally proficient behind the scenes, having had the privilege of preparing choruses for some of the world’s most prominent orchestral conductors, including Zubin Mehta, Pierre Boulez, Seiji Ozawa, Michael Tilson Thomas, Leonard Slatkin, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Gustavo Dudamel, Carl St.Clair, Gerard Schwarz, Marin Alsop, John Williams, and Keith Lockhart. 

Alexander holds the title of Professor Emeritus at California State University, Fullerton, where he served as Director of Choral Studies from 1996 to 2006. Earlier, he held the same position at California State University, Northridge for 25 years. After his retirement from academia, Alexander has continued his involvement in the pre-professional training of choral conductors. He is a founding member of Chorus America’s Choral/Orchestral Conducting Academy and continues to serve that program as an Emeritus Faculty Member. 

Alexander’s numerous tributes and awards include Chorus America’s Michael Korn Distinguished Service Award (2024), ACDA’s Howard Swan Award (2017), Chorus America’s Michael Korn Founders Award for Development of the Professional Choral Art (2008); CSUF School of the Arts’ Distinguished Faculty Member award (2006), Arts Orange County’s  Helena Modjeska Artistic Visionary Award (2003), Los Angeles County’s Gershwin Award for Artistic Leadership (1990) and Cal State University Northridge’s  Distinguished Professor Award (1977).