'Under the Baton': PBS SoCal to Air a Special on Carl St.Clair

In partnership with Culture OC and a generous grant from the Orange County Community Foundation, PBS SoCal will air an interview with Carl St.Clair as he reaches the end of his tenure with Pacific Symphony.

Carl St.Clair. Photo courtesy of Pacific Symphony

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A yearlong collaborative project between Culture OC and PBS SoCal comes to its conclusion this week. “Under the Baton: Pacific Symphony’s Carl St.Clair” makes its world broadcast premiere on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 10:30 p.m. PT on PBS SoCal Plus with an encore airing on Friday., Dec. 20 at 10 p.m. PT on PBS SoCal. Following the broadcast, the documentary will also be available for streaming at pbssocal.org/underthebaton and on the free PBS app.

Culture OC contributed to the project with a series of three articles:

Part 1: An Ambitious Young Orchestra Survives Some Growing Pains

Part 2: Growth, Turmoil, Tragedy and Triumph

Part 3: Finding a New Conductor for Changing Times

On “Under the Baton,” Culture OC publisher Paul Hodgins interviewed Pacific Symphony music director Carl St.Clair about his 35-year tenure at the helm of the orchestra. He also interviewed orchestra members, former Pacific Symphony board president John Evans and the orchestra’s president, John Forsyte, about St.Clair’s influence on the orchestra since he assumed the position in 1990. As Pacific Symphony prepares to welcome its next music director, Alexander Shelley, this collaborative series places St.Clair’s work and legacy in perspective as he passes the baton.

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This project was made possible with a grant from the Orange County Community Foundation.