8th Annual Cascade Conducting Masterclass & Composer Workshop

With the motto of “Excellence through Equity,” Cascade Conducting is dedicated to bringing world- class musical education to talented and diverse musicians from the US and around the world.  Conceived by Paula Madrigal, Teo Benson, and Sarah Ioannides in 2017, Cascade Conducting is officially a program of Orquesta Northwest, a 501(c)3 non-profit.

Since 2018, Cascade Conducting has given out 30 full tuition scholarships equaling more than $70,000 to exceptional young conducting and composing students, with a focus on engaging talented BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) musicians who may not have access to traditional avenues or opportunities.

A unique pedagogical philosophy has formed the mission of Cascade Conducting, which seeks to provide a unique map for navigating the world of music and conducting, and to find balance between the demands of the business, and the preservation of one’s individual musicianship as a necessity to achieve excellence.

In 2020, in a partnership with Symphony Tacoma, Cascade Conducting teamed up with Symphony Tacoma composer in residence, and now Dean of the School of Music at Julliard, David Serkin Ludwig, to create the first Cascade Composers Workshop with David Ludwig, and culminated in the performance of “The Final Conquest” presented by Symphony Tacoma.  Now in it’s 3rd full year, the Cascade Composers Workshop is comprised of 10 composers from around the US and the World including composers from Venezuela, Hong Kong, and Beijing.  

In 2022, Cascade Conducting added a Choral Conducting Masterclass, led by Director of Choral Activities, and Music Director of Symphony Tacoma Voices, Dr. Geoffrey Boers.  This year’s Choral Conducting Masterclass is comprised of 13 talented and emerging choral conductors from all over the US and Canada.  

The Orchestral Masterclass with Sarah Ioannides, Third Annual Choral Masterclass with Geoffrey Boers, and fourth Annual Cascade Composers Workshop will run from June 13th- June 21st, 2025, giving participants from each class the opportunity to learn from all of the faculty and disciplines at the Eighth Annual Cascade Conducting Masterclass with Sarah Ioannides.

Concert Preview: Symphony Tacoma Romantic Reveries

An evening of lush melodies and intricate orchestral textures that transport you to a world of romantic elegance and grandeur. Symphony Tacoma principal cellist, Alistair MacRae, takes the spotlight for a masterful interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s “Variations on a Rococo Theme,” bringing to life the elegant and virtuosic variations that highlight the cellist’s artistry, blending classical grace with romantic lyricism. Bruckner’s magnificent and expansive soundscape blends pastoral themes with soaring brass and intricate orchestral passages to evoke a sense of grandeur and serene beauty.

Come Early for Symphony Tacoma Soundcheck – 6pm. Learn more about the music, artists, and personalities of Romantic Reveries with composer and Professor of Music at Pacific Lutheran University, Gregory Youtz, and Symphony Tacoma Music Director Sarah Ioannides.

Concert Preview: Boston University Symphony Orchestra

The Boston University Symphony Orchestra concludes its season with a concert that promises to be both stirring and sublime, uniting mystery, nobility, and raw emotional power under the skilled direction of guest conductor Sarah Ioannides. This exciting program—free and open to the public—showcases masterworks that span Romantic grandeur, mythic drama, and 20th-century edge, offering audiences an unforgettable evening of orchestral brilliance.

Opening the concert is Felix Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture (also known as Fingal’s Cave), a tone poem that vividly captures the windswept landscapes and haunting seascapes of the Scottish coast. With its brooding undercurrents and lyrical surges, Mendelssohn’s music conjures a sense of mystery and ancient legend—setting the perfect tone for a program that explores emotional and sonic depth.

Next, the orchestra shifts into a bold, contemporary register with Carl Nielsen’s Clarinet Concerto, a work that challenges both performer and listener with its dramatic contrasts, quirky dialogues, and introspective lyricism.

The evening culminates with Franz Schubert’s towering Symphony No. 9 in C major, “The Great”, a work of expansive beauty and noble spirit. Its broad, sweeping melodies and rhythmic drive reflect Schubert’s deep admiration for Beethoven while charting a voice entirely his own. Often hailed as a symphonic masterpiece that bridges the Classical and Romantic eras, this work brings the concert—and the season—to a triumphant and moving close.

Concert Preview: Symphony Tacoma presents Beyond the Shores

A journey through stirring landscapes, resonant with the echoes of nature and human emotion. Mendelssohn beautifully captures the mysterious and windswept beauty of the Scottish coast, painting a vivid picture of the sea swirling through an ancient, echoing cave. George Li brings Schumann’s Piano Concerto to life with his expressive touch and technical brilliance, highlighting the work’s intricate dialogues and rich, Romantic touches. Kynance Cove evokes the serene beauty and sweeping landscapes of a coastal cove, with rich harmonies that capture the essence of the natural scenery. A beautiful intertwining of orchestral and vocal elements, featuring Symphony Tacoma Voices, creating a sense of adventure and hope, leading us on a powerful journey toward the unknown with sweeping melodies and deep emotional resonance.

Come Early for Symphony Tacoma Soundcheck – 6pm. Learn more about the music, artists, and personalities of Beyond the Shores with composer and Professor of Music at Pacific Lutheran University, Gregory Youtz, and Symphony Tacoma Music Director Sarah Ioannides.

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