Opera Pacific and the Orange County Philharmonic...

Opera Pacific and the Orange County Philharmonic Society have failed in their bids to win recommendations for California Challenge grants, awarded for highly innovative or adventurous projects. In ranking the groups from 1 to a perfect 4, an advisory panel to the California Arts Council gave Opera Pacific a 3 and the Philharmonic a 2+, said council challenge grant manager Gloria Woodlock. Typically, only groups ranked 3+ or above win challenge awards. The opera company had applied for $50,000 to help finance a 1991 summer season at the new Irvine Barclay Theatre, but panelists “didn’t feel the season would be challenging artistically,” Woodlock said. The Philharmonic Society applied for $15,000 to underwrite a concert series also at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. Its low ranking came largely because the series is part of the society’s present season, Woodlock said. Thirty-two groups statewide were recommended for 1990-91 challenge grants.