Ian Watson, Conductor and Harpsichordist

Ian Watson has been described by The times in London as a keyboard performer with “virtuosic panache and brilliantly articulated playing” and “a world-class soloist.” He has appeared as soloist or conductor with the London Symphony, London Philharmonic and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras, Scottish Chamber, English Chamber, Polish Chamber, Irish Chamber and Stuttgart Chamber Orchestras, Bremen Philharmonic, Rhein-Main Symphony Orchestra, Academy of  St. Martin in the fields, Handel and Haydn Society, English Baroque Soloists, and The Sixteen amongst many others, and now joins the Purcell Society as a leading artist. He has also been featured on more than 200 recordings and film soundtracks including Amadeus, Polanski’s Death and the Maiden, Restoration, Cry the Beloved Country, voices from a Locked Room, and BBC‘s David Copperfield. Ian has a distinguished career as both a solo and collaborative pianist.  He is in demand as a chamber music partner, and has appeared in recital with nigel Kennedy, Iona Brown, Julian Lloyd Webber, QX Boston and the Academy of St Martin in the fields Chamber Ensemble amongst many others. He is featured as a pianist on a number of films and recordings including an award-winning CD with Renee fleming. Ian’s first major appointment was as Organist at St. Margaret’s, Westminster Abbey, at the age of 19, a position he held for ten years, and has also held a number of important positions in London including Organist of St. Marylebone Parish Church, and Music Director of the historic Christopher Wren Church, St. James’s Piccadilly.