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The New Zealander baritone and vocal coach, Ian Campbell, has spent his life in the public eye as a musician and singer. An early introduction to opera as a boy soprano led to a thirty-year career in opera both in New Zealand and abroad. His work as a professional singer has taken him to many countries in the world. Basing himself in Australia, four years with The State Opera Of South Australia and five years with Opera Australia (1984-1989), and England, Opera Express and freelance performer, for a period of 17 years. He returned to New Zealand in 1997 where he set up a successful teaching studio in Auckland and moved to the Waikato in 2003, teaching and performing throughout the country from this base.
As a performer Ian Campbell's professional roles have included Escamillo in Georges Bizet's Carmen,Tonio in I Pagliacci, Alfio in Cavaleria rusticana, Marco in Gianni Schicci, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly to name but a few. Crossing into music theatre he can claim 'Old Deuteronomy' in Cats and many roles in a number of Gilbert and Sullivan operettas as another highlight.
A popular baritone soloist, performing the larger classical works such as W.A. Mozart's Requiem, George Frideric Handel's Messiah, Orff's Carmina burana and J.S. Bach's Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 with many choral societies and choirs, Ian Campbell also performs in the chamber group Vox Baroque (Director: Rachael Griffiths-Hughes) which has been performing a monthly cantata at St Peter's Anglican Cathedral Hamilton for the last ten years. He is the Director of the New Zealand Opera School, a Teaching Fellow at the University of Waikato, Voice Teacher at St Paul's Collegiate, Artistic Director and a Trustee with Youth Opera Aotearoa. lan continues his private teaching practice, enjoying helping singers find success in their career path.
Ian Campbell has worked on the international stage as a performer and teacher spending eight years with Opera Australia and seven years in the UK. He teaches classical, opera and musical theatre. Many past pupils have reached the final of the NZ Aria contest; two of which won the contest and one of which went on to win the McDonald's Aria contest in Sydney, an internationally prestigious award. At secondary school level, his students are consistently achieving merit and excellence passes at NCEA levels 1, 2 and 3 and selected pupils sit Royal School of Music exams through to ATCL level. He currently lives in Hamilton, New Zealand. |
