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Ian studied at Chetham's School of Music, Manchester, and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. He was the original Musical Director for the UK premieres of Jerry Herman's DEAR WORLD and George Stiles' THE THREE MUSKETEERS. His musical direction credits at London's National Theatre include the controversial award winners JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA and LONDON ROAD, both world premieres.

He has had a long association with CHICAGO THE MUSICAL, as Musical Supervisor overseeing international productions in the UK, Paris, Stuttgart, Moscow, Seoul, Barcelona, Madrid and Amsterdam. He was Musical Director and Conductor of the production in London at the Cambridge Theatre and Phoenix Theatre.

As a pianist he has performed extensively throughout Europe, the USA and the Far East as both soloist and chamber player, and made his London solo debut in 1997 at the Purcell Room.

He has worked with artists as diverse as Gary Oldman, Ennio Morricone, Cuba Gooding Jr, Tim Roth, Martin Kemp, All Saints, Brooke Shields, Sinitta, Paloma Faith, Victoria Wood, Lalo Schifrin, Betty Buckley, Melanie C, Lee Mead, Ute Lemper, Brian Conley, Kathy Burke, Lynda Carter, Alexandra Burke and Jerry Springer.

He has been twice nominated for Best Musical Direction at the Broadway World Awards for his work on Cameron Mackintosh's production of BARNUM and for the West End production of CHICAGO at the Phoenix Theatre.