Ian Smith  

Over thirty years ago, Bridgewater Hall at Stantonbury in Milton Keynes welcomed a new young Head of Music and, as a result, Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire gained an outstanding musician.  In 1977 the Danesborough Chorus was delighted to appoint Ian as its Musical Director and he has remained in the post ever since.  After training at York and Cambridge and five years as Director of Music at Bridgewater Hall, Stantonbury Campus in Milton Keynes, Ian moved to Bedford as Director of Music at Pilgrim Upper School and then Head of Performing Arts at Biddenham Upper School before becoming Director of the Bedfordshire County Music Service: one of the most successful services in the country.  After more than ten years in the post, he stepped down to return to teaching as Director of Music and Expressive Arts at Wootton Upper School in Bedford .

 Although he worked initially as an academic music teacher, Ian's main interest has always been to encourage and participate in practical music making, and the long list below shows just how active he has been locally over the years.  He remains active as a professional violinist, and has conducted and trained a range of groups of all ages and standards.