Prentice Loftin, a native El Pasoan, has devoted his career to building and shaping major musical institutions in the El Paso region. He is the Founder of El Paso Opera, the Founding Conductor of the El Paso Chamber Choir, and the Founder of the El Paso Conservatory of Music. His leadership has had a lasting and transformative impact on the cultural life of the region.

​

During his eleven years as Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Voice at UTEP, his choirs earned international recognition, winning competition awards in Europe and establishing a standard of artistic excellence. In 1993, he founded El Paso Opera, guiding the company for fourteen years as General Director and presenting fully staged productions that earned national recognition and coverage in Opera News. That same year, he assumed leadership of the El Paso Chorale and later formed the El Paso Chamber Choir, a professional 24-voice ensemble that collaborated with the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, El Paso Opera, El Paso Pro-Musica, the Chihuahua Symphony, Las Cruces Symphony Orchestra, and Zarzuela El Paso.

​

Originally trained as a tenor, Mr. Loftin performed many leading operatic and oratorio roles before focusing his career on conducting, arts administration, and vocal pedagogy. His students have gone on to perform on major stages including the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, and leading European houses.

​

Today, Mr. Loftin and his wife, Yvonne Marmolejo, direct the El Paso Conservatory of Music. Their work has received national attention, including features on NPR’s From the Top, and continues to shape the next generation of musical leaders in the region.