Ian Cook is currently a Senior Lecturer of Music at Avondale Conservatorium, Avondale University. Ian was a full-time lecturer at School of Music – University of Newcastle 1997-2016.

He completed his PhD in 2008 (University of Newcastle); the title of his thesis was Tempo Indications of Mozart: An Analytical Study of Performance Practice in the Twentieth Century as it relates to The Magic Flute and The Marriage of Figaro. His mentor was Maestro Myer Fredman. In 2013 and 2014 Ian held two Scholars and Artists in Residence Fellowships (SAR) at the National Sound and Film Archives in Canberra researching Sir Charles Mackerras’s recordings (2013) and Hector Crawford (2014).

In June 2018 Ian presented at the Oxford Conducting Institute Conference. His paper is entitled Does speed matter? The interpretation of a tempo indication is central in realising the contextual issues of a Mozart opera libretto when conveying the story.

In August 2019 Ian presented a paper on Hector Crawford’s contribution to the cultural life of Australian post WWII through his Music for the People and Mobil Quest at the Oxford Conducting Institute Conference at the Sydney Conservatorium, the first time the conference had been held outside of the UK.

In January 2025 Ian was the founding Artistic Director and Chief conductor of the newly formed Fernleigh Orchestral and Arts Network (FOAN). The two flagship ensembles are the Fernleigh Young Musicians Orchestra and Fernleigh Wind Ensemble. In addition, FOAN has string training ensembles, a Cello Ensemble, a Chamber Orchestra and a Clarinet Ensemble.

In May 2025 the orchestra presents their inaugural concert – featuring David Rowden in the Concerto for Basset Clarinet – Ornamental Air by Elena Kats-Chernin. David is the Artistic Director of the OMEGA Ensemble. In August the Wind Ensemble will present the Australian premiere of Johan de Meij’s Symphony No 5 – Return to Middle Earth for the Newcastle Music Festival. This will be the fourth symphony of the iconic works of this Dutch composer for which Ian has given the Australian Premiere.

AT THE FESTIVAL