About
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After reading music at the University of Durham, Ian studied at the Royal Northern College of Music with Neil Howlett and received a Masters in Performance. He has sung in many choirs including the University of Durham Chamber Choir and the National Youth Choir of Great Britain with broadcasts on Radio 3 and Classic FM as well as many recordings and performances throughout the world.
Performing on stage he has appeared as Guglielmo (Cosi Fan Tutti), Melittone (La Forza del Destino), Le Dancaire (Carmen), Taddeo (L'Italiana in Algeri) and Dandini (La Cenerentola).
He regularly performs oratorio throughout the country with performances including Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Nelson Mass, Brahms’ Requiem, Bach’s St. John Passion and the B Minor Mass. He has sung Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs at Manchester Cathedral, and Carmina Burana at the Liverpool Philarmonic Hall.
He appeared at the Spitalfields Festival in London with the RNCM Baroque Ensemble, and sang as soloist on the BBC Daily Service. Last year he sang the “Beast” with Opera North’s education project “Beauty and the Beast” composed by Daniel Marsh. Recent concerts include Szymanowski’s Stabat Mater (in Polish) with the Manchester University Chorus, a recital with pianist Andrew Wilde, Carmina Burana in Monmouth, the Messiah with the Manchester Bach Choir, Rossini’s Petite Messe Sollenelle in the Isles of Scilly and a recital at the Emmanuel Concert Series in Loughborough. In 2005 he performed the world premiere of Helen Seddon-Gray’s ‘Craving for Spring’ for baritone and orchestra with the University of Manchester Sinfonietta.
In addition to his performing engagements, Ian is a member of staff at the School of Vocal Studies and Academic Studies at the Junior Royal Northern College of Music and teaches singing at Altrincham Grammar School for Girls. He also teaches privately at his studio in Manchester and runs a web design company for musicians with his father. He lives in Manchester with his wife, the composer Helen Seddon-Gray.