Ian is the Assistant Director of the New Zealand Opera School and has been with the School since its formation in 1994 with key responsibilities for working with our international tutors, organising the School timetable and supporting and mentoring students and alumni.
As a baritone and vocal coach, Ian has spent his life as a musician, singer and teacher. An early introduction to opera as a boy soprano led to a thirty-year career in opera both in New Zealand and abroad. Basing himself in Australia, Ian spent four years with The State Opera of South Australia, five years with Opera Australia (1984-1989) and in England with Opera Express and as a freelance performer for a period of 17 years. Ian 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 IPagliacci, 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-PassionBWV 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.
Ian is 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.