IAN KEATLEY

Born in Belfast in 1982, Ian Keatley was a chorister at the Parish Church of St George for seven years. As a chorister, he did much solo work with Opera Northern Ireland and with BBC Radio 4. In 1996, he was appointed Organ Scholar at Methodist College Belfast and, also, at St George's - later becoming Assistant Organist there. In 1999, he accompanied the choristers of St George's for a CD recording (on the Lammas label) produced by Dr. Barry Rose. In September, 1999, Ian moved to Wells to take up a position as countertenor Choral Scholar at the Cathedral. At the same time, he completed his A-Levels at Downside Abbey School and studied organ with Jeremy Filsell in London, and singing with Ashley Stafford in Oxford. For two years, Ian was Assistant Director of Music at Croydon Parish Church and, in 2003, was awarded the Haigh Prize for organ playing. He spent four years at the Royal College of Music (RCM) and two as Organ Scholar at Southwark Cathedral - where he founded the Merbecke Choir; a group of male and female singers, all under 25, who perform both sacred and secular music. Ian has given recitals in Southwark Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Wells Cathedral, St Albans Cathedral, St John's and Clare Colleges, Cambridge, and Magdalene and The Queen's Colleges, Oxford. In September, 2004, he was appointed Organ Scholar at Westminster Abbey. Ian often performs in master classes and college concerts. Recently, he played continuo for the RCM's Baroque Ensemble's performance of the Christmas Oratorio conducted by Peter Schreier. Last year, he was the soloist in Poulenc's Organ Concerto, at St Stephen's, Gloucester Road, with the Fidelio Ensemble. He currently studies organ with Timothy Bond, harpsichord with Robert Wooley, and singing with Ashley Stafford.