WELCOME AND THANKS FOR VISITING 

I am a multi-genre composer with a particular love for classical choral music

 
The St. John Passion
"A superb achievement"
Robert Sharpe, Director of Music, York Minster

CD  from Root to Sky
"Lovely music...beautiful melodies...wonderful tone...very atmospheric" 
Chris Leslie, Fairport Convention & Feast of Fiddles

A Worcestershire Song Cycle 
"Ian King has produced a masterpiece"
John Phillpott, Worcester Journal

CD  Branching Out
"Beautifully played and expertly arranged...
a distinctly stylish folk-meets-classical album"
FATEA Magazine
 

 
CLASSICAL COMMISSIONS
 
The Christmas Truce - a setting of Carol Ann Duffy's poem - Gloucester Cathedral Choir 2018
 
The Infant King - a carol  - Worcester Cathedral Chamber Choir 2018
 
Responses - Worcester Cathedral Chamber Choir 2017
 
Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis  - Gloucester Cathedral Girl Choristers 2017
 
A Worcester Fantasy for organ - Three Choirs Festival 2017, live on Radio 3
 
Psalm 150 for choir and mixed instruments - King's School, Worcester 2017
 
From Heaven Above to Earth I come, a carol - Worcester Cathedral Choir 2016
 
To the Eternal Father - Worcester Cathedral Girl Choristers, with organ and handbells, 2016
 
The Gloucester Service - Three Choirs Festival 2016, live on Radio 3 - Recordings above
 
The St. John Passion  - Gloucester Cathedral Choir 2014
 
 A Worcestershire Song Cycle - Three Choirs Festival 2011
 
 
                                    Performance of The Gloucester Service, Gloucester Cathedral 
 
 
 
FOLK / POP
 
I have written and arranged many tunes for my group Kings & Folk  which includes my wife Claire on violin, myself on piano, flute/whistle, vocals and djembe drum
 
Our CDs have been played on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Scotland, French radio, and various local BBC stations
 

I wrote the music for 3 tracks on the Album Song Be My Soul by Deborah Rose:

Springtime       Lady of Shallott       Little Boat
 
Springtime is a previously unset poem by the singer Eva Cassidy.
Eva's parents heard us perform the song in 2013 and approved it for public release.
Recording of Little Boat above.
 
 


TEACHING AND PERFORMING

I have performed as a pianist in my own works at the Three Choirs Festival, with the English String Orchestra, at Birmingham Town Hall, Kings Place in London and Worcester Cathedral.
With  Kings and Folk   I have played at venues ranging from music festivals and folk clubs to country churches and village halls.

I teach piano privately at home and at Worcester Sixth Form College, covering a huge range of music: classical (Medieval to Modern), pop/rock, jazz/blues and folk.

I also teach music theory, music history, composition and improvising. I adapt my lessons to the unique needs of each pupil. If you’re keen and imaginative I’d be happy to hear from you.
 

 

 

 


LATEST NEWS

PUBLISHING:

My jazzy piano piece Happy Day
is in the new ABRSM Grade 1 Piano Syllabus
 

 


ON TOUR IN MALTA:

A new piece for Brecon Cathedral Choir will be sung on their tour of Malta, May 2019

By complete coincidence Ian and family will be on holiday there at the same time!

 


BEAT SABER:

A remix of my track Country Rounds
originally written for Kings & Folk

- now a backing track in the multi award-winning Virtual Reality Game

YOUTUBE LINK

 


THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE:

A setting of Carol Ann Duffy's poem
for Gloucester Cathedral Choir -
to commemorate the centenary
of the 1st World War

 

 

 

KINGS & FOLK