Robert Istad, a Grammy Award-winning conductor who “fashions fluent and sumptuous readings” (Voice of OC) with his “phenomenal” artistry (Los Angeles Times) was appointed Pacific Chorale’s artistic director in 2017. Under his leadership, the chorus continues to expand its reputation for delivering fresh, thought-provoking interpretations of beloved masterworks, rarely performed gems, and newly commissioned pieces. Istad’s newest project, the inventive choral-theatrical concert film “To the Hands,” premiered as an official selection of the 2025 Newport Beach Film Festival and will receive its commercial release in early 2026. An esteemed educator, Istad is professor of music and director of choral studies at California State University, Fullerton, where he was recognized as CSUF’s 2016 Outstanding Professor of the Year.