SARAH IOANNIDES Conductor Described by the New York Times as a conductor with “unquestionable strength and authority,” Sarah Ioannides’ dynamic presence on the podium has won praise from audiences and critics alike for bringing fresh ideas, original programs and exciting performances to orchestras across the globe. Sarah Ioannidesʼ conducting engagements span five continents with recent appearances with the Rochester Philharmonic, the Louisville Orchestra, the Buffalo Philharmonic, North Carolina Symphony, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra. She has also guest conducted the Orchestra Nationale de Lyon, Flemish Radio Orchestra, Wurttembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn, Västerås Sinfonietta and the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra. A passionate director of vocal & choral music she has conducted and recorded with the RIAS Kammerchor, SWR Vokalensemble, and Bachakademie, Stuttgart. Her recording with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and violinist Lara St. John was reviewed by Gramophone music magazine as “directed with panache by Sarah Ioannides”, which features the Suite from the Red Violin by John Corigliano and two world premiers. Music Director of the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra since 2005, Ioannidesʼ successful tenure is characterized by cultivating traditions and establishing effective community relationships through creative programming. "The orchestra and its Music Director, Sarah Ioannides, offered compelling proof of the value and importance of an orchestra.” (Spartanburg Herald Journal.) She also served as Music Director with the El Paso Symphony Orchestra between 2005-2011 where she was highly recognized by her innovative programs, multimedia creations, and developing a younger audience: ”once again, Ioannides was dazzling as she led the orchestra in an exhilarating performance” [El Paso Times]. Sarah Ioannides has appeared in special engagements with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New World Symphony and the London Symphony Orchestra. Assistant Conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra from 2002-2004, she also served as the Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra, and was the first woman appointed to the conducting staff of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Ioannides collaborated regularly with composer/conductor Tan Dun, serving as Assistant Conductor & Production Coordinator. As such, she conducted the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra, the Flemish Radio Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Sinfonietta and the Oregon Bach Festival. She has directed and commissioned films for live orchestral multimedia performances including new films for Holstʼs The Planets, and Steve Reichʼs The Desert Music. She has served on numerous advisory boards and as a competition adjudicator, and has most recently served as a panelist for the National Endowment of the Arts. Dedicated to supporting living composers, Ioannides has conducted dozens of premiers including works by John Corigliano, Dario Marianelli, Tan Dun, Kenneth Fuchs, Luis Tinoco and Jennifer Higdon. As a conductor of opera, Ioannides led the European premiere of Stephen Paulusʼ The 1 SARAH IOANNIDES Conductor Woodlanders, garnering acclaim from the Times, The Guardian, The Independent and The Telegraph in the UK. Opera-Opera depicted Ioannides lyrical conducting technique as one "with the most persuasive of gentle textures, she coaxed from the performers an extraordinary array of sounds. She was grace personified.” Born in Australia, Ioannides grew up in the UK performing as a violinist in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. She received Masters degrees from both Oxford University, as an instrumental scholar, and the Juilliard School of Music, where she was Assistant Conductor to Otto- Werner Mueller. A recipient of numerous prizes and awards, she came to the United States on a Fulbright Scholar to attend the Curtis Institute of Music, following studies in conducting at the Guildhall School of Music. In 2009 Ioannides was named in the Los Angeles Times as one of six female conductors breaking the glass podium. Noted in the New York Times as part of “a new wave of female conductors in their late 20ʼs through early 40ʼs,” Sarah Ioannides is a prize-winner of the Leeds Conducting Competition and was also awarded the JoAnn Falletta award for the most promising female conductor. For more information visit http://www.sarahioannides.net 2 SARAH IOANNIDES Conductor APPOINTMENTS: 2005 - present Music Director, SPARTANBURG PHILHARMONIC, SC 2005 - 2011 Music Director, EL PASO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, TX 2004 - 2005 Guest Music Director, DESSOFF CHOIRS, New York, NY 2002 - 2004 Assistant Conductor, CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Covering CSO Classical, Pops & May Festival concerts and assisting all conductors. Conducting concerts as needed for the CSO: subscription, summer & education concerts Assistant Producer for CD recordings with Telarc. Preconcert talks & donor presentations 2002 – 2004 Music Director, CINCINNATI SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA 1999 - 2003 Assistant Conductor to COMPOSER/CONDUCTOR, TAN DUN Cover Conductor, Orchestra Preparation, Choir Director & Production Coordinator for multimedia premieres, festivals/performances in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Russia, France, Germany, Sweden, USA and UK 1997 – 2000 Music Director, SWARTHMORE COLLEGE ORCHESTRA Associate in Performance, SWARTHMORE COLLEGE, PA Teacher and lecturer for advanced counterpoint, ear training and solfege courses, individual tutor for score reading courses and conducting 1994 – 1995 Music Director, OXFORD UNIVERSITY OPERA, UK Music Director performing European premiere of Stephen Paulus’ The Woodlanders, recognized by the national press. Worked on the revisions with composer. Cast of London professionals. Formerly invited as guest conductor to lead performances of Mozart’s Il Seraglio in 1993 Orchestra Engagements include: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre Nationale de Lyon, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Flemish Radio Orchestra (Belgium), Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, Tacoma Symphony, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, New West Symphony, Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra, Annapolis Symphony, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra (Sweden), Municipal Orchestra of Caracas, New World Symphony, Daejoen Philharmonic (Korea), Nordic Chamber Orchestra (Sweden), Västerås Sinfornietta, Swedish Wind Ensemble, Annapolis Symphony, Naumburg Orchestra, Millennium Chamber Ensemble, Perth International Festival (Australia), Cyprus State Orchestra, REMIX ensemble (Portugal), Perth International Festival (Australia), Naumburg Orchestra (NYC), Cyprus State Orchestra, Wuttenbergisches Kammerorchester (Germany) and the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra (Venezuela). Special engagements: London Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra (Project Synergy) BBC Singers (Concert/Radio Broadcast), Curtis Opera Theatre, British Youth Opera 3 SARAH IOANNIDES Conductor Assistant conductor/Cover Conductor: BBC Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, BBC Concerts Orchestra, Orchestra Nationale de Lyon, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Dresden Sinfoniker, London Sinfonietta, BBC Concerts Orchestra, White Nights Festival (Russia), Spoleto Festival (Italy), Brooklyn Academy of Music, Manilva Opera Festival (Spain), Stuttgart Bachakademie. Vocal/Opera: RIAS Kammerchor, SüdWest Rundfunk Vokalensemble (Germany), Oregon Bach Festival, London Voices, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Curtis Opera Theatre Guest Conductor with Training Orchestras: Chicago College of Performing Arts Roosevelt University Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University Philharmonic Orchestra Cincinnati Conservatory of Music Concert Orchestra, Regular Guest Conductor Verbier Festival, Assistant Conductor & Evian Festival, Assistant Conductor Oxford University Orchestra Guest Conductor Oxford University Chamber Orchestra, Guest Conductor British Youth Opera Assistant Conductor Oxford Philharmonia Music Director EDUCATION: 1998 - 2000 JUILLIARD SCHOOL OF MUSIC, NEW YORK Masters of Music in Orchestral Conducting, Assistant to Otto-Werner Mueller 1996 - 1998 CURTIS INSTITUTE OF MUSIC, PHILADELPHIA Diploma in Conducting, Friends of Curtis Fellowship, Presser Award, Assistant to Opera Studio 1993 - 1994 GUILDHALL SCHOOL OF MUSIC, LONDON Advanced Certificate in Conducting, Awarded the Conducting Prize 1990 - 1993 OXFORD UNIVERSITY, SOMERVILLE COLLEGE Master of Arts awarded following B.A. degree in Music, Instrumental Scholarship AWARDS: Fulbright Scholarship & Fulbright Travel Awards JoAnn Falletta Award Womens Philharmonic/LOA Bruno Walter Assistant Conductor Chair The Leeds Conducting Competition Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Kenneth Tyghe Memorial Prize/Audience Prize League of American Orchestras Presser Award for study in St. Petersburg Women's Conducting Grant Curtis Institure of Music Wingate Scholarship Alice Horsmann Traveling Fellowship To study in the USA & Janet Watson Prize, Oxford University 4 SARAH IOANNIDES Conductor WORLD PREMIERS: 2011 Spartanburg Philharmonic Kenneth Fuchs Falling Man 2011 Spartanburg Philharmonic Dario Marianelli Pride & Prejudice Suite 2011 Carnegie Hall: Link Up Thomas Cabaniss The Orchestra Sings 2011 Spartanburg Philharmonic David Berry The Search for Stephanie Thayne 2008 El Paso Symphony Orchestra, El Paso Osvaldo Mendoza A La Deriva 2008 Nordic Chamber Orchestra, Sweden Venla Hinnemo Reactions