Cascade Conducting

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, Sarah Ioannides, and Teo Benson 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 $80,000 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.

Gaining truly international status, the Orchestral Masterclass has welcomed conductor's from England, Australia, Iran, China, Argentina, Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, Israel, and Ecuador.

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 4th full year, the Cascade Composers Workshop has welcomed composers from around the US and the World including composers from Venezuela, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Israel.

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 across 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 15th- June 21st, 2026, 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.

About Orquesta Northwest

Led by primarily Latinx staff and board, Orquesta Northwest has worked to promote a sense of belonging and empowerment in Seattle-area Latino community members, beginning with the arrival of Paula Nava Madrigal, professional cellist, and conductor from Guadalajara. In collaboration with a local nonprofit providing instruction, without charge, to under-served youth, she launched the World Youth Orchestra program the same year. In 2015 Ms. Madrigal and Teo Benson, professional violinist and founder and Director of Halcyon Strings Music School, co-founded the Ballard Civic Orchestra and began offering annual Latino arts and culture concert series featuring Latinx guest artists and composers. In 2019 Orquesta Northwest became a 501c3 nonprofit organization, presenting World Youth Orchestra and Ballard Civic Orchestra arts and culture programs and projects and offering an annual Master Class by a new Cascade Conducting program in partnership with Symphony Tacoma. Orquesta Northwest collaborates and partners with other Seattle-area Latino organizations, such as the Consulate of Mexico in Seattle, Casa Latina, Latino Community Fund, and SeaMar Museum of Chicano/a Latino/a Culture, to present Latino arts and culture events and youth educational programming without charge.

The programs and projects of Orquesta Northwest serve as a bridge to excellence in every dimension of life by celebrating Latino arts and culture, empowering marginalized community members, especially youth, and building partnerships and deepening ties with the Latino community. In 2022 Orquesta Northwest social justice projects include voter education, community messaging about the pandemic and vaccination, a celebration of Latinx essential workers, youth cultural education, and capacity-building to achieve equitable access to space in Seattle.

Orquesta Northwest is supported by city, county, state, and federal grants as well as foundations and individuals, including the National Association of Latino Arts & Culture (NALAC), National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Tides Foundation, 4Culture (King County), ArtsWA, Seattle’s Office of Arts & Culture and Neighborhood Matching Fund, and Equitable Communities Initiative.

Cascade Fundraising Concert 2025

Support this Annual International Tacoma Event!