Two Rising Stars Make RPO Debuts

This weekend, the stars will align to produce several rare occurrences: February 17 at 7:30 pm and February 19 at 8:00 pm, two female guest artists will take center stage at Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre as guest conductor Sarah Ioannides and violinist Lara St. John team up with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra to perform Hindson’s Violin Concerto, “Australian Postcards.” Both Ioannides and St. John will be making their Rochester debuts. In addition, this performance marks the RPO premiere of the Hindson Violin Concerto.

Although Ioannides will conduct the RPO for the first time this weekend, she has a prior connection to the RPO in the form of Music Director Christopher Seaman. Ioannides, who was born in Australia and raised in England, once received conducting lessons from Seaman. Christopher says, "Some years ago I gave Sarah some coaching as a conductor at the Guildhall School in London, and always believed she would succeed, which indeed she has."

Described by The New York Times as a conductor with “unquestionable strength and authority,” Ioannides is currently the music director of two American orchestras—the El Paso Symphony Orchestra and the Spartanburg (SC) Philharmonic Orchestra—and juggles her busy conducting career with motherhood. She is the mother of three young children, including twins who were born last April.

Ioannides will be joined onstage by Canadian-born violinist Lara St. John. Hailed by The Strad as “something of a phenomenon,” St. John is a critically-acclaimed soloist and recording artist, and will use her artistry and skill to depict Hindson’s evocative portrait of Australia. Use this link to view videos of St. John in concert, including footage of the adventurous star playing her violin in a hot air balloon.

In 2008, Sarah Ioannides and Lara St. John teamed up to release the one and only recording of the Hindson Violin Concerto. Now, they are coming to Kodak Hall to bring you the unparalleled excitement of live music. Also featuring Debussy’s shimmering La Mer and Stravinsky’s exciting Suite from The Firebird, this concert is sure to chase away your winter blues, and provide you with a transcendent musical experience. As a recent review of Lara St. John states, her “passionate and riveting performance [makes] the temperature rise, regardless of the season.”

Tickets start at $15, and can be purchased by clicking here, or by calling 454-2100.