Haydn’s Symphony No. 88 in G Major literally came to life with Maestro Passmore at the helm. A truly exciting rendition that earned a well-deserved standing ovation."
- The Oak Ridger (TN)
“Ian Passmore proves himself to be a powerful Brahms conductor, with a fine intuitive sense of ‘push-me-pull-you’ and a palpable enjoyment of the music's dramatic ebb and flow, allowing climaxes plenty of space to expand and fall away. This impression is confirmed by a warm accompaniment to the Bruch Scottish Fantasy. And flexible rhythm is of course the name of the game in Bernstein's On The Town, where Passmore exhibits the sort of intuitive ability to sashay which makes us American.”
- Steven Kruger (Fanfare)
More about Ian
Known for adventurous musicality, a captivating stage presence, and an unapologetically Romantic interpretive style, Filipino-American conductor Ian Passmore enjoys a dynamic career as an orchestral leader and pedagogue. A native of North Carolina—recognized for his quick wit, Southern charm, and down-to-earth approachability—he was hailed by Fanfare magazine as “a rising young conductor.”
In October 2025, following his return engagement with the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra, Ian was appointed Artistic Director of the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association and Music Director-Designate of the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra. He will serve as Music Director-Designate for the remainder of the current season and will assume the full Music Directorship beginning with the 2026–27 season.
During the 2025–26 season, Ian returns for multiple programs with the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra; continues his second year as Interim Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra and Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Youth Camerata ; conducts the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra’s holiday production of Cirque de Noël; and leads eight U.S. performances of Stardew Valley: Symphony of the Seasons. His recent activities also include the Charlotte Symphony’s 2025 performances of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker with Charlotte Ballet.
A former Associate Conductor of the Omaha Symphony, Ian was appointed to the newly created position in 2019 after two seasons as Assistant Conductor—an historic appointment in the orchestra’s 100-year history. He has appeared with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, the orchestras of Anderson, Charlotte, Delaware, Greensboro, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Lincoln, North Carolina, Oak Ridge, Salisbury, Winston-Salem, the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra , and Vietnam’s Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra .
Ian has collaborated with numerous distinguished artists, including Canadian Brass, violinist Susanna Perry Gilmore, and pianists Spencer Myer and Clare Longendyke.
Ian holds three academic degrees: the Doctor of Music in Orchestral Conducting from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music; a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Delaware; and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, with additional studies at UNC Chapel Hill. He is a member of the honors music society Pi Kappa Lambda.
A committed educator who began conducting studies early, Ian maintains an active role in conducting pedagogy. He has presented at the International Conductors Guild, South Dakota Bandmasters Association, and the Nebraska Music Educators Association. His private students have gone on to programs including the Jacobs School of Music, the Conservatoire de musique de Lyon, the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, and the Aspen Music Festival & School.
Ian and his wife, Dianna Fiore, live in North Carolina with their four dogs—Beethoven, Charlie, Belle, and Heidi. Away from the podium, he enjoys local restaurants and craft beers, cooking, traveling, road biking, and CrossFit.
Ian is represented by Parker Artists of New York and is a performing artist for Work of Art Custom Batons.
Ian Passmore is a rising young conductor, and his Indiana University Symphony Orchestra is fully professional here and beautifully engaged. It counts for a lot when a happy combination of microphones meets players this determined to create beauty. The bass is room-caressing, high strings satiny, and the performance aglow. That’s what stopped me dead in my tracks to write this review. Passmore doesn’t press forward with unneeded aggression. The music simply unfolds.”
- New York Arts