Ian Harrison

Ian was the first from Australia to go and study in Hungary at the Kodaly Institute with the assistance of an International Kodaly Society Scholarship. He taught at Melbourne Grammar, St Michael’s Grammar and VCASS for over 30 years touching the lives of a huge number of people in these Communities.

Ian’s work in schools covered many areas – Senior Music Classes, Musicianship Classes, Performance Classes, Ensemble direction and Orchestra direction.

However, it was in the areas of Choral direction that Ian is most remembered. Ian worked with the Australian Boys’ Choir as well as directing the Choral Music in the Schools in which he taught. Ian was equally at home with large forces and chamber choirs (Will we ever forget Ian’s conducting the massed choral at the Kodaly Choral Festivals?!)

Ian’s work with Chamber Choirs was though arguably his forte. His sense of musical understanding and indeed his outstanding musicianship were evident in these performances. Often in these settings Ian directed from the piano. I vividly recall a performance of the St Michael’s Chamber Choir at one of the Kodaly Festivals which Ian directed from the piano. The performance was so musically complete it left the audience spellbound.

Ian was a fine pianist and organist.

Ian was involved in implementing the Kodaly methodologies of teaching from its early days in Victoria. Along with Jean Heriot, Cam Vincent, Jill Thomas, John McClure, Greg Lee, Georgina Nagy, Marjorie Sargeant and Ken White, Ian was involved in setting up KMEIA in Victoria, sitting on the Committee from 1979. Ian then took over from Cam Vincent to become the second Victorian President of KMEIA in 1983. Thus began an involvement which continued till his passing in April 2008