Ian Coleman

Ian Coleman was born and brought up in Cambridge, where he gained a basic musical training as a boy-chorister in Jesus College Choir, and then studied music and English as organ-scholar at St. Cathrine’s College. Whilst at St. Cathrine’s he recorded the choral and organ music of George Dyson on a CD that has recently been re-issued by Castle Classics, which he complemented in the year 2000 with his première recording of the organ works of Josef Labor on the Priory label, a recording made on the organ of St. Ignatius’ Church, Stamford Hill, where he was director of music at the time. The figure of St. Ignatius of Loyola has a particular resonance in Ian’s life, as he spent four years training for the priesthood in the Society of Jesus before he met his wife Antonia; the influence of Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises, and in particular the Baroque imagery of the ‘Contemplatio ad Amorem’ continues to fascinate him in his present work as a freelance musician, teacher, writer and composer. Much has been said recently about the need to re-capture a sense of spirituality in Catholic worship; often this is said too glibly, and without proper understanding. Ian sees it as part of his role, as choirmaster at the church of St. Anselm & St. Cecelia (Holborn) and secretary of the Westminster Diocesan Liturgical Commission, to explore and reflect on what a true spirituality of the liturgy and of music might mean. He is greatly helped in this task by his three children, who attempt to keep his feet on the ground.

Canzona (2006) was performed during the 2006 AFNOM festival in London.

Contact information

Email: iancoleman@operamail.com