After 17 years with Wigton Choral Society, Ian Hare will be standing down as its Musical Director in December 2007. During these years Ian has greatly developed the choir's abilities and its repertoire, making it one of the best amateur choirs in Cumbria. Another Ian will be taking over - Ian Wright, and we very much look forward to working with him. 

As an organ recitalist and accompanist, Ian Hare has performed widely in Britain and abroad, including France, Germany, Holland, and the USA. He has played at many of the major London venues, notably an appearance in the Proms. Recent performances have included tours of Canada and North America, engagements in Rome and Vienna, and recitals at Queen’s College, Oxford and King’s College, Cambridge. He has made several recordings, including broadcasts for radio and television. He is also a composer, specializing in choral and organ music, and has had a number of works performed and published in Britain and the USA.

From 1981 to 1989 he was Organist and Master of the Choristers at Cartmel Priory and then became Sub-Organist at Carlisle Cathedral until 1995. After founding the Lancaster Singers in 1975 he remained their Musical Director until 1989, conducting many choral works with orchestra and professional soloists. Currently, he is the Director of Music at Crosthwaite Church, Keswick, in the Lake District, where he has established the Music at Crosthwaite series of summer concerts. He also directs the Keswick and Wigton Choral Societies and is Chorus Master of the Cumbria Rural Choirs.

Having begun his musical training at Hymers College, Hull and at St Mary’s Church, Beverley, he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists at the age of sixteen and studied in Paris with André Marchal. In 1968 he became the Organ Scholar of King’s College, Cambridge, under the direction of Sir David Willcocks. Following studies at the Royal College of Music and with Nadia Boulanger in France he was appointed Lecturer in Music at Lancaster University in 1974, subsequently becoming its first University Organist. He is in demand as a teacher, is an Associated Board Examiner and recently adjudicated an organ competition at Eton College.

Ian has recently recorded a CD of organ music on the theme "In Pastures Green", with music by Stanford, Bach, Buxtehude, Boyce, Mendelssohn, Franck, Langlais, Howells, Dubois, and some others, including his own "The King of Love". 

The CD is available from the choir secretary or from the Bookcase Record Shop in Castle Street, Carlisle.

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