Ian obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of North Texas and Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Southeastern Louisiana University. He received his choral training under the guidance of Professor Mel Ivey, Dr. Brad Richmond and Dr. Susan Conkling. As a student, Ian toured extensively with the UNT A Cappella Choir, UNT Novum Canticum and SLU Concert Choir covering North America, Mexico and England. As a chorister, he has performed various major works including Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Verdi’s Requiem, Mozart’s Requiem, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Poulenc’s Gloria, Bach's B Minor Mass and was featured as a tenor soloist in Benjamin Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb.Upon graduation, Ian taught at Ponchatoula High School, Louisiana for a year where he served as the Choir Director. His choir won First Class Honors at the State Choral Festival and many of his students auditioned successfully into the All State Choir. He was a member of the ACDA and LMEA.
Since returning from the United States, Ian has devoted his time to teaching voice and choir. He is presently the Choir Director of Dithyrambic Singers, University College Sedaya International Chamber Choir and University College Sedaya International Choir. His choirs perform and compete throughout Asia. In 2005, Dithyrambic Singers were awarded a Gold Diploma at the Voyage of Songs International Choir Competition in Shah Alam, Malaysia. In the following year, they won three Gold Medals and two Silver Medals at the Hong Kong International Youth & Children's Festival. In November 2007 they participated in the 1st Asian Choir Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, winning the Championship in the Musica Comtemporanea Category and a Silver Medal in the Mixed Choir Category. In April 2008, he conducted three performances in Brunei upon the invitation of the Brunei Music Society and also a master class for Jerudong International School. In July 2008, his choir was awarded two gold medals (Mixed Choir Open Category & Folklore A cappella) and a Special Jury Award at the Grand Final of 21st Century International Choral Festival, Orientale Concentus in Suzhou. In November 2008, his choir once again emerged Grand Prix Champion in Busan Choral Festival & Competition 2008 in South Korea after obtaining the highest scores from the panel of judges in both categories they participated in (Mixed Classic Category and Ethnic Category). Dithyrambic Singers was also invited as one of the guest performers in the Gala Concert. With all the awards and recognition, his choir was recently invited by the Singapore Government as one of the four award-winning guest performers in their World Youth Choral Festival 2008 in December 2008.
Ian adjudicates singing and choral competitions all across the nation and is in demand as a choral clinician. He has conducted masterclasses with the Penang State Symphony Choir, Young KL Singers and in 2005 was invited by the Macau Education Ministry to conduct a masterclass for their choral directors. In May 2007 Ian was a guest tutor in the 5th Kuala Lumpur Young Singers Choral Festival. In addition, Ian had worked closely with the Lyric Opera of Malaysia and was the Chorus Master for their productions of “Tosca” and “The Merry Widow”. Additionally, in 2007 he was the Choral Director for the Malaysian National Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No.9
His students have been selected to represent Malaysia in the World Youth Choir, Asian Youth Choir, Asian Pacific Youth Choir. Ian currently lectures in UCSI University.
