Ian J.G. Clague MBE, BSc, FTCL(Cond.), LTCL(T)
Ian commenced his brass playing with Jim Crosbie in January 1971 at the age of fifteen and soon joined the Manx National Youth Band on Second Baritone also playing First Baritone for the Douglas Town Band. He was soon installed on the Euphonium desk and was given the position of Solo Euphonium in September 1973.
In 1974 he left to study in Liverpool for a degree in Electrical and Control Engineering. Whilst in Liverpool he was fortunate to play First Baritone for the Edge Hill (BR) Band in the first section under the directorship of Robert Dean.
After graduating he returned to the Island, initially taking a position with the then Electricity Board, later transferring to the Douglas Corporation where he was their Borough Engineer for 35 years until his retirement in 2015.
Following a period of two years as assistant conductor, helping to train younger players, Ian was appointed Musical Director in October 1981 following the sad passing of Jim Crosbie, a position he has held ever since. In 1995 Ian also took the baton of Manx Concert Brass. Ian has obtained Licentiate Diplomas in Brass Teaching and Conducting and a Fellowship in Conducting from Trinity College of Music, London. He enjoys the hard work that conducting the Band entails and finds that helping all the players he has worked with to achieve their musical potential is extremely rewarding.
Ian was awarded the M.B.E. in the 2000 New Year's Honours List for his services to music in the Isle of Man.