Ian Miles

An active community keyboardist and choralist over a virtual half-century since the mid-1970s, Ian also has considerable experience directing amateur choirs in Oxfordshire (to 2018, before relocation to Sussex): see range of indicative detail below. He has since been playing alternate weekends at Storrington parish church and occasionally elsewhere locally (West Chiltington; Warnham; Brighton) plus ad-hoc special events and concerts; was on the volunteer team providing Christmastide background music in the Marble Hall at Petworth House (NT); and continues to give biennial recitals in New Zealand during visits to far-flung family there. In September 2022 he became accompanist to Horsham Chamber Choir. Meanwhile for practice and development purposes (not to mention his own pleasure!) he has an Allen Q211-SP instrument on which, during the 2020 lockdown/s, he began producing videos from a surprisingly wide repertoire ~ see samples of 'Ian's Interludes' channel elsewhere on this Profile, to show the breadth of his tastes; the accompanying graphics and prog-notes offer further clues to his background and cultural 'wavelength'. While he can coax music out of almost any keyboard instrument in playable condition ~ and currently also has a mature-beginner piano-accordion pupil ~ Ian also has his own versatile stage-piano rig, and a separate portable digital continuo unit (with harpsichord registers) for period oratorio work. His prior credentials include: MD of Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir (2000-6), Albert Park Singers, Abingdon (2009-18), Abingdon Gospel Choir (2013-18) and All Saints', Sutton Courtenay (2008-18) where he also set up and ran series of 'Parish Prom' chamber concerts totalling 30 events over 7 years. Repetiteur to Abingdon Operatic [= stage-musical] society on 30 shows over 15yrs (1996-2011), Wantage Choral Society (2008-18) and Didcot Festival Chorus (2000-17); Associate Musical Director on the Abingdon Passion Plays 2013 & 2016. He has played in various cathedrals, and at the Sheldonian Theatre both for royalty (a ceremony for the visiting King of Jordan) and ~ separately ~ a sellout Welsh combined-choir gala. Conducting highlights have included two come-&-sing 'Messiahs' (one, shown above, at St Helen's, Abingdon), and choral music ~ including the premiere of his own through-arranged TTBB setting of 'Abide with Me' ~ in the presence of the then-Archbishop of Canterbury. He holds the Archbishops' Certificate of the Guild of Church Musicians and actively belongs to many other musical bodies e.g. the Hymn Society and the committee of his local Organists' Association, while also being a Friend and practical supporter of the (usually) annual English Music Festival, based around Dorchester-on-Thames and with other events at Horsham (a felicitous coincidence, not of his own making!) He has meanwhile compiled and contributed over 100 specialist cryptic crosswords to the respected quarterly 'Organists' Review'. Previously employed as a graduate modern-language teacher at New College [Choir] School, Oxford (fd.1379) & elsewhere, Ian also offers language / phonetic coaching to vocalists alongside engagements as a versatile accompanist. Others for, and with whom he has made music, have often commented on Ian's range of experience, evident relish in entertaining and evocative live performance, and warm balance of stylistic sensitivity with fun and enjoyment.