Cheltenham Choral Society

In addition to being Conductor and Musical Director for Cheltenham Choral Society, Jubilate Chamber Choir, the English Concertante Orchestra and the Cirencester Philharmonia, Ian is also Director of Music for the University of Gloucestershire, where he directs both the University Choir and the University Chamber Orchestra.

He has also worked on a number of occasions with the West of England Players and the Corelli Chamber Orchestra.  Ian has also been invited to conduct choral workshops in the UK and the USA and has performed in many of the country’s major concert venues, cathedrals and churches, both as a conductor and as an organist.

Ian studied conducting with the late Dr Melville Cook, Jonathan Delmar and Sir David Willcocks.  He is also well known as an organist and studied the organ with Ian Tracey (Liverpool Cathedral), David Saint (St. Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham), and John Scott (until recently Organist at St. Paul’s Cathedral).  

Ian holds Fellowship Diplomas from ten musical institutions both in the UK and abroad, and has held many prestigious posts as an organist including Organist to the Cathedral Singers of Christ Church, Oxford.  Ian is currently School Organist and Teacher of Piano and Organ at St. Edward’s School, Cheltenham and is in demand both as a conductor, composer and accompanist. 

Ian has composed and arranged much music, which has been published by St James Music Press, USA, Boosey & Hawkes, Cathedral Music, Animus Publishing and Parish Publications.  Much of his music has won critical acclaim from both sides of the Atlantic, some of which have also been selected as set works for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music examinations and competitive music festivals around the UK.

Ian's music has been performed at prestigious events, including the Piccolo Spoleto Festival USA, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra, City of Glasgow Chorus, Bristol Cathedral Concert Choir and also the CBSO Chorus and Orchestra.  Ian has composed several large scale choral works which include a setting of the Requiem Mass for SATB chorus, soloists and orchestra, commissioned and first performed in 1998 by Cheltenham Choral Society with the world famous soprano soloist, Dame Felicity Lott and a Missa Brevis for SATB and organ accompaniment, premiered in Paris in 2007 and published by Cathedral Music.

Amongst Ian's many published choral compositions are several commissioned works which have been written for choirs world wide. 

Other publications include ‘Welcome the Star’, a collection of 25 Christmas choral titles which is published by St James Music Press in the USA, and ‘Star of Wonder’ a collection of 38 Christmas carols for SATB choir and organ / piano which is published by Parish Publications. 

In 2006 Ian received an award from Cheltenham Arts Council in recognition of his work with choirs in the Cheltenham area.

[S1]