Arts Preview: Orange County Arts Awards

For 24 years, Arts Orange County has presented the Annual Orange County Arts Awards, celebrating organizations, artists, and patrons in the community who have made a significant impact. At the ceremony last month, the organization honored Carl St.Clair with a Special Recognition. This season marks St.Clair’s 35th year leading Pacific Symphony as its music director. He remains the longest tenured American-born music director of a major American orchestra. Here are a few other notable award winners from years past:

Dick Dale, musician 

Chuck Jones, artist 

Mary Muth, philanthropist 

Hal Landon Jr., actor 

Cherie Kerr, director 

Gloria Zigner, CHOC Follies founder 

Paula Tomei, South Coast Repertory managing director 

Henry Segerstrom, philanthropist 

Ralph Opacic, OCSA founder 

Donald & Joan Beall, philanthropists 

John & Sandy Daniels, philanthropists 

Marytza Rubio, writer 

Anne Shih, Bowers Museum chairwoman 

Richard Kaufman, musician and conductor 

Joan Irvine Smith, philanthropist