Ian Kennedy
Vocal Tutor
About
Ian Kennedy studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he won the coveted Gold Medal. As a tenor soloist he has sung in opera, oratorio and on the concert platform throughout UK and abroad.
His solo repertoire ranges from pre-Baroque to contemporary musical theatre. He has appeared as a soloist at a number of prestigious festivals, including the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, notably in the 50th anniversary performance of Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music.
In lighter vein, he has appeared in musical theatre and operetta and was for several years a regular entertainer aboard P&O and Royal Viking cruise liners. In addition to his solo career, Ian was a member of the BBC Singers for nearly three decades.
Also an experienced accompanist and conductor, Ian numbers amongst the orchestras he has directed the Houston Symphony and Los Angeles Philharmonic – at the Hollywood Bowl. He was for several years Musical Director of “Gilbert and Sullivan for All” and also Associate Conductor of the National Concert Orchestra. In 1995 he combined his love of choral music with his conducting when he became Musical Director of the East Surrey Choral Society.
Ian now devotes much of his time to teaching. He was appointed to the staff of the Guildhall in 1986 where, in addition to one-to-one lessons, he also directed classes in oratorio, English song and light music. In 2012 he was invited onto the music staff at Chichester University. As a singing teacher, he is also a member of the music staff at CIty University, London and a visiting tutor at Peterhouse College, Cambridge. Alongside these commitments, he also has a busy private teaching practice, as well as engagements as singer and conductor.
Other work has included tutoring on summer schools, festival adjudication and directing vocal and choral workshops. His anecdotal recital programmes of “Ballads, songs and snatches” have proved particularly popular.
Outside music, his overriding passion is sport – and in particular, golf. Ian claims that his handicap could be considerably lower and his playing standard consistently better….. if only he had more time for concentrated practice ….and possibly a little more self-discipline and patience! (Please note that any comparisons with singing are purely coincidental!)
Other department members
Alison Woodward
Deputy Director, University of Chichester Conservatoire
Programme Coordinator - BA Hons Acting for Film and BA Hons Music
