Ian became a boy chorister in the village church at Wolvercote, Oxford, maybe to earn a shilling or so per service. It was the school/choirmaster who encouraged Ian to play something on the organ.*

Singing lessons to help his asthmatic breathing coincided with the inception of day-boy choristers at Magdalen College, and he was duly metamorphosed by his gown and mortar board. When his legs could reach the pedals, Ian started organ lessons with organ scholar Dudley Moore, the first of three distinguished teachers, which led to him gaining an Organ Scholarship to Selwyn College Cambridge.

After 21 years of Oxbridge, when he yearned for a different life, he had a conversation with tutor David Harrison’s wife Sheila, a former BBC employee, who ‘sold’ her late employer to him. Thus following an interview in a Cambridge hotel bedroom from a Mr Moriarty Ian became a Studio Manager, a very practical apprenticeship to Production.

Within a short time he was working in BBC television Music & Arts, mainly with the adventurous and contemporary music champion director Barrie Gavin on some groundbreaking programmes. Fashions then changed so Ian pursued his production ambitions, making UK publicity films at the Central Office of Information, before gaining his final BBC post as Producer Network Music Programmes based in Bristol, where he was initially Director of Studies for the Academy of the BBC training orchestra, later Editor of Organ and Choral music on Radio 3, and pioneer in ‘drivetime’ programmes.

BBC reorganisation prompted his early retirement, but he has worked continually since, as writer, organist, director, presenter and composer.
(He is married to violinist Mary [ex-Liverpool Phil], with family Aaron, Amy and Jessica. Ian & Mary have lived in Taunton for nearly 30 years).

*Burgmüller, Ballade for piano

Ian is always happy to talk about new projects or collaborations. Feel free to get in touch using the email contact form below.