March 2012: New Musical Director Appointed

The Ipswich and Norwich Coop Band is pleased to announce the appointment of  Ian Johnson as Musical Director, with immediate effect.

The band is excited about this opportunity to work with Ian, who has a wide  ranging musical experience and considerable success in his banding career before  working overseas.  Ian has recently returned to the UK and is now living and working in Norwich.  We are all looking forward to Ian leading us through an  increased contest programme over the coming year as we work  towards promotion to the Championship section in 2013.

The band welcomes new players for its busy concert programme over  the summer and would also like to acknowledge and thank its outgoing Musical Director, Roland Morris, for his work and efforts with the band.

 

 

 

Ian Johnson is a multi-award winning conductor, arranger, composer and adjudicator as well as a much sought-after coach and teacher. He was brought up in East Anglia and studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Cambridge University having been inspired by the brilliant Brian Halls.

In 1984 Ian was named ‘Young Conductor of the Year’ by the National Association of Brass Band Conductors and shook the brass band world by leading the famous Hanwell Band to victory in the Tetley Yorkshire Open Championship. He remains the youngest conductor to have competed in the Championship Section Final of the National Brass Band Championship at the Royal Albert Hall.

As a conductor Ian Johnson has appeared in all the major concert halls in the UK as well as many in all parts of the world. He has worked with many brass bands, orchestras and choirs including Grimethorpe Colliery, Jaguar Cars, CWS Glasgow, Continental Airlines of Auckland, Matthews Norfolk Brass, the Huntingdon Area Youth Brass Band, Huddersfield Choral Society, Cantabene, the Icini Orchestra and the Scarborough Area Youth Symphony Orchestra.

He has hosted his own weekly radio programme for the BBC, was a regular on the popular TV show ‘That’s Life!’ and has broadcast frequently on shows as ‘Listen to the Band’ and ‘Friday Night is Music Night’.

As a composer and arranger Ian has an extensive catalogue for brass band, two Stage Musicals and has recently completed the commission ‘Kett’ for Symphonic Band.

Having been abroad for a number of years Ian is delighted to return to his association with UK banding. He is excited about working as Musical Director of the Ipswich and Norwich Co-op Band with whom he is looking forward to a busy and successful future. He is married to the beautiful Alisha and in September 2012 will take up the position of Director of Music at Bullers Wood School, Chislehurst.