Curtain Falling On Conductor’s Time In El Paso

You could call it a symphony sendoff. Sarah Ioannides is moving onto a different stage after she conducts her final concerts with the El Paso Symphony Orchestra.

“This is a celebration of the six years we’ve been together,” Ioannides said.

The Australian-born conductor is the organization’s sixth and first female conductor in its 80-year history, though she’s modest about the notieriety that comes with such a distnction.

“I’m proud to be the first, and I hope not to be the last,” she simply responds.

As the mother of a three-year-old girl and one-year-old twins, mixing music and motherhood hasn’t been easy.

“Traveling is exciting but it’s also hard work,” Ioannides said. “So we’re looking for the next place where we can be together a little bit more as a family.”

That next place will be South Carolina, where she also serves as an orchestra director.

“I love conducting. I love working with orchestras. I love working with audiences and creating programs that are keeping music alive,” Ioannides said.

She’s not leaving El Paso without some fond memories. Not only is the Sun City where she’s raised her young family; it’s also where she met her husband as she directed her first concert.

“People say they could see the chemistry was already there, but i was pretty focused on my audition and working with the orchestra that week,” Ioannides said.

The 39-year-old conductor wore a much-talked about leather outfit that day. Ioannides said she is always striving for something different. She hopes her musical style boosts support for the arts.

“The experience of hearing classical music or any other live arts performance is something unique and special and i just hope when my kids gets to my age, that that is still being cherished,” Ioannides said. “i just want to thank the citizens of el paso for their support and generous spirit during these last six years. It’s been a wonderful time for me and for the orchestra and i hope that continues long into the future.”