John Forsyte is President and Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Symphony. He has led Pacific Symphony since 1998, overseeing its evolution into the largest orchestral institution founded in the United States in the past 50 years. His tenure has combined artistic ambition, financial discipline, and community engagement, including the opening of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, a Carnegie Hall debut, a China tour, and a nationally televised appearance on PBS’s Great Performances. In partnership with longtime Music Director Carl St.Clair, Forsyte helped pioneer innovative programming including semi-staged opera, Café Ludwig chamber music concerts, expanded family programming, and the nationally recognized American Composers Festival. Most recently, he led the international search resulting in the appointment of Alexander Shelley as Artistic and Music Director beginning with the 2026–27 season.
Forsyte has also significantly expanded Pacific Symphony’s education, community, and philanthropic impact. The Symphony’s Class Act program serves 18 partner schools, while its Youth Ensembles reach more than 300 students annually. During the pandemic, he launched Symphony on the Go, bringing free outdoor performances throughout Orange County, and the organization was recognized as a regional Nonprofit of the Year. Contributed income has grown five-fold during his tenure, and more than $40 million has been raised for the endowment. Forsyte’s honors include the Helen M. Thompson Award from the American Symphony Orchestra League and the Helena Modjeska Cultural Legacy Award from Arts Orange County.