CANDIDATE SPOTLIGHT – Ian Passmore
- tiakanigan2
- Jul 18
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 25
About the Music Director Search
This season, the Great Falls Symphony is thrilled to welcome six outstanding finalists as part of our search for the next music director. Each candidate will conduct a concert and spend time in our community, sharing not only their artistry but their vision for what the Symphony could mean in our town.
“This is an extraordinary opportunity for Great Falls,” says Executive Director Hillary Shepherd. “We invite everyone–patrons, musicians, and first-time concert goers alike–to come experience each conductor and help us imagine the next chapter of our Symphony’s future.”
Click below to see the published spotlights for the other candidates!
Meet Ian Passmore
Enthusiasm & Authenticity
Ian Passmore’s joy for conducting is infectious. Energetic, positive, humorous, and outgoing, his outlook on the future is bright.
Growing up in Thomasville, North Carolina, Ian became fascinated with conducting long before he ever picked up an instrument. “A college wind ensemble came and played at my elementary school. I don’t remember anything they played because I was so fixated on the conductor. I saw him and thought, ‘I have to do that.’”
His grandmother got him a library card and took him to their local public library. He checked out every book, video, or recording about conducting. “By the time I started band in sixth grade, I had already taught myself the basics of conducting,” he laughs. “On the first day of band class, when they asked me what instrument I wanted to play, I said, ‘I don’t really want to play. I want to conduct.’” They told him he had to start somewhere, so he settled on the trumpet, an instrument passed down from his uncle.
In seventh grade, Ian accidentally conducted his first concert. “Something had happened to the band director, and they knew I loved to conduct. I got called out of class to go and sight-read the conductor's score and direct the eighth-grade band for a concert. I was thrilled!” From then on, he found every opportunity to conduct and was encouraged to the podium by teachers and mentors through his senior year of high school.
Ian's academic path took him to UNC Greensboro for a Bachelor of Arts in Music, where he studied trumpet and conducting, with a minor in psychology. He continued with post-bachelor’s orchestral conducting studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, then earned his Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Delaware, becoming the school’s inaugural recipient of that degree. He later completed his Doctor of Music in Orchestral Conducting at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, with minors in music history and literature and music theory. His professional career has included multiple seasons with the Omaha Symphony, where he moved from Assistant to Associate Conductor before relocating back to North Carolina with his wife of four years, Dianna. They are now based in High Point, NC.
Ian and Dianna began dating in 2013 after meeting at a conducting workshop before continuing on to their masters degrees. Dianna now owns and runs Sloppy Paws, her thriving dog-walking and pet-sitting business. She also volunteers at the local animal shelter. Together, they share a deep love for animals and have a house full of rescues: three beloved dogs (Charlie, Belle, and Heidi). They’ve also helped rehome other pets with family. Their pets fill their home with joy and chaos.
Ian’s interests extend well beyond the concert hall. He enjoys road biking, cooking with Dianna, listening to true crime podcasts, and exploring new craft beer. When he has time, he fits in a CrossFit session or two, something he used to compete in. He describes himself as hugely social and extroverted. Ian is someone who thrives on conversation and shared experience, both on the podium and off.
When asked about Great Falls Ian says, “I’m very choosy about the communities I work in these days. I only apply for positions in places I could really see myself spending a lot of time in and being a part of everything. I won’t aim for places that have no potential for a life for my wife and I. A music director needs to be present. You can’t be in and out if you’re going to be a real part of the community.”
For him, being a Music Director isn’t just about conducting great concerts, it’s about being present and involved. “I don’t want to be the kind of conductor who just flies in for a week. To really lead an orchestra, you have to be in the community and care about the people.”
Ian is drawn to Great Falls not just for the podium, but for the potential of building a life here. The size of the city, its sense of community, and the possibilities for his wife’s business are all part of what makes the opportunity compelling.
“I want to be part of something lasting. A music director should be deeply involved—not just with the orchestra, but with the entire community. That’s what excites me most about this role.”
What can you expect from Ian’s upcoming program with the Great Falls Symphony?
“This program is one I’m really excited about. It tells a story about moving from darkness and grief, to perseverance and dealing with fate, and finally to beauty, nature, and the triumph of the human spirit. It takes you from darkness to light— it has a really great arc.”
He went on to mention his excitement to get the opportunity to work with our Symphonic Choir. He chose the works with care, aiming for both emotional impact and musical challenge, some pieces the orchestra has never played before, and others not in many years. He’s excited not only for the performance, but for the rehearsal process: the collaborative exchange of ideas, energy, and nuance that happens between conductor and musicians in real time.
Get to Know All of Our Finalist Music Director Candidates
All of our candidate spotlights are available to read on our blog. Click below to meet the other candidates, read their professional biographies, or get your season tickets to an unbelievable season! Don't miss the opportunity to see these outstanding conductors in action during their upcoming performances.
Ian is sponsored by Angela Costley & Deb Porcarelli. All of our Music Director Finalist Candidates are sponsored by The Gibson Hotel, City Motor Company, and Rib & Chop House–Great Falls!
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