Pacific Symphony’s new principal bassist, Richard Cassarino, and his wife, Grammy-nominated classical pianist Joyce Yang, recently chose to make Irvine their new home. The couple relocated from Birmingham, Alabama, this summer, where Cassarino performed with the Alabama Symphony for 12 years. In March, he triumphed over dozens of other performers through six rounds of arduous auditions to secure the principal seat at the Pacific Symphony.
“It’s a big decision to hire a principal player,” Cassarino says. “They require someone who not only plays well, but also shows leadership qualities.”
Cassarino began playing piano at age 8 and the bass at age 14. In high school, he discovered the double bass. “I played in the high school orchestra and found there are infinite possibilities,” he says. “The bass fits into just about every genre of music.”
He studied at UC Santa Barbara, Azusa Pacific and, eventually, Indiana University, where a professor told him he needed to begin playing professionally. “I took an audition in Alabama and got the job.”
‘This is where we want to be’
The couple met shortly thereafter, when Yang came to Birmingham to perform with the symphony. They celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary in August, just after settling into their Cypress Village home.
“I can’t believe how kind everyone has been,” Cassarino says. “It’s been an ideal transition. We’ve already made so many great friends.”
Irvine’s vibrant restaurant scene makes meeting with friends a new experience every time. “The culinary scene has completely opened up to us,” Yang says. “We’re always wanting to explore new cuisines we didn’t have access to for many years.”
For Cassarino, who grew up in San Diego, Irvine feels like a return to his roots. “I always wanted to come back to Southern California,” he says. “When the position opened at Pacific Symphony, it was like a dream. I really wanted to make it happen.”
“I can’t believe how kind everyone has been. It’s been an ideal transition. We’ve already made so many great friends.”
Richard Cassarino
The Pacific Symphony began its 35th anniversary season last month. At nearly twice the size of the Alabama Symphony, the range and repertoire unlocks new opportunities for Cassarino. The 2024-25 series includes Rachmaninoff, Strauss, Brahms and Bach. “We’re playing Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, which has a big bass solo. I’m already nervous for that,” he says. “We’re opening the season with Beethoven No. 7, which is just a lightning bolt of joy. And we’re playing Shostakovich Symphony No. 10. These are all huge, blockbuster pieces that I’ve never had the chance to play in a professional orchestra.”
Meanwhile, Cassarino and Yang are charmed by Irvine’s proximity to parks and surrounding communities. They’re both grateful for the lack of mosquitoes and the ability to be outside any time of day, all year long. A short drive delivers Cassarino to Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, his second home these days. For this duo, Irvine checked every box. “We arrived in a small paradise,” the couple says. “This is where we want to be.”
