The Sixth Annual Cascade Conducting Masterclass  Final Concerts are This Weekend!

Friday, June 30th and Saturday, July 1st at Pacific Lutheran University

~ Friday, June 30th at 7:30pm:  The Choral Conducting Final Concert

Twelve emerging choral conductors will lead the Symphony Tacoma Voices, joined by members of the Cascade Orchestral Conducting Masterclass and the Cascade Composers workshop, with the Cascade Choral Chamber Ensemble, in what promises to be a heartfelt and meaningful culmination to a week of collaboration and growth for the participants of the Cascade Choral Conducting Masterclass, led by Symphony Tacoma Voices Music Director Geoffrey Boers. Featuring soprano Elizabeth Galafa, as well as music by Faure, Handel, and Morten Lauridson, this concert is an opportunity for these musicians to shine. We hope to see you there!

~ Saturday, July 1st, 9am-1pm:  Public Reading of Composers Works

Five emerging composers have written new works specifically for this year’s workshop.  This new music will be premiered by the Cascade Composers Sinfonietta, and conducted by participants of the Cascade Orchestral Conducting Masterclass. Audience members will have the opportunity to witness the moment when composers will hear their compositions performed for the first time. With the guidance of David Serkin Ludwig, renowned composer and current dean of the Music School at Julliard, Cascade Composers will work together with Cascade Conductors to shape their works towards a unified artistic vision. It will be a wonderful display of collaboration between composer, conductor, and orchestra, and will surely be an inspiring event to be part of.

~ Saturday, July 1st at 3pm:  The Orchestral Conducting Final Concert

Fourteen emerging conductors from around the US and abroad will lead the Cascade Conducting Orchestra in a spectacular grand finale to the 6th Annual Cascade Conducting Masterclass that will feature works by Beethoven, Faure, Bartok, and Stephanie Berg. Symphony Tacoma principal cellist Alistair MacRae will perform Tchaikovsky’s fantastic Rococo Variations for cello and orchestra. This concert represents a week of intense work and collaboration, led by Symphony Tacoma music director Sarah Ioannides. You won’t want to miss it!


Cascade Conducting masterclasses offer a rare opportunity to conduct professional musicians, connect and collaborate with emerging conductors and composers from around the world, and to work with internationally recognized faculty members in the prime of their careers.

Masterclass Instructors

Sarah Ioannides

Cascade Conducting Artistic Director Music Director of Symphony Tacoma

Geoffrey Boers

Director of Choral Activities at the University of Washington

David Ludwig

Composer/Dean & Director of Music at the Juilliard School

Special Guest

Ayis Ioannides

Guest Composer and Instructor

Cascade Conducting

“…a challenging business, yet a highly worthwhile and valuable art form.  Preserving one’s own talent, faith to the music, and performance integrity while navigating a successful path forward is imperative. Not only so that great symphonic music can live on and be cherished by generations to come, but also so it may function as a relevant and effective platform for peace, expression, and understanding of our world.”
~Sarah Ioannides

2022 Native Scholarship Recipient - Austin Davis

Hear from participants of the 2020 Online Masterclass.

During June 2020, Cascade Conducting went online. Take a glimpse into some of the moments and ways in which Sarah Ioannides taught conducting with the aid of zoom streaming. 

 Gallery