Ian Venables

Ian Venables studied composition with Richard Arnell at Trinity College of Music, London and later with John Joubert, Andrew Downes and John Mayer at The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Described as ‘Britain’s greatest living composer of art song’ (Musical Opinion) and ‘a song composer as fine as Finzi and Gurney’ (BBC Music Magazine), Venables has written over 80 works in this genre, including eight song-cycles. Beyond the world of art song he has written many chamber works that include a Piano Quintet Op. 27 and a String Quartet Op.32, as well as smaller pieces for solo instruments and piano. His most recent choral work is a Requiem, which has been recorded by both Gloucester Catheral Choir and Merton College Choir Oxford, the latter in its orchestral verion. Venables is President of the Arthur Bliss Society, a Vice-President of the Gloucester Music Society, Chairman of the Ivor Gurney Society. His music is published by Novello and Co and has been recorded on the Regent, Somm, Signum, Naxos and Delphian labels.

For further information about his music please visit www.ianvenables.com or www.wisemusicclassical.com