Biography

Ian Wright was brought up in Wales, and his first musical experiences were through the church choir which he sang with from the age of 4. He took up the violin when he was 9, and went on to receive a classical training at the Welsh College of Music and Drama, the Guildhall School of Music in London and City University, where he studied for a BSc degree in Music. He also has a degree in Theology from Oxford University. After 13 years as a Minister in the Church of England, Ian is now devoting more time to musical activities and teaching. Ian works as a violin teacher in schools for the Cumbria Music Service, and plays with ensembles such as the baroque groups Consort 1700 and Ensemble Buxtehude. He came to traditional music later on, and has spent time in Ireland studying Irish fiddle. Since 2003 he has performed Celtic music as half of the duo FAIN, with Cockermouth based singer Anne-Marie Kerr , appearing in Carlisle Cathedral, the Lanercost Festival, the Zagare Cherry Festival in Lithuania, the Edinburgh Fringe and many other events. Frim time to time he also plays fiddle in the Cumbrian ceilidh band Thrice Brewed.


Ian is an accomplished singer, and teaches Singing in secondary schools in Carlisle and West Cumbria. He sings with The Wordsworth Singers and Ensemble Buxtehude, as well as appearing as tenor soloist.
He is also Musical Director of Wigton Choral Society.