Ian Porthouse was born in Cumbria in 1967 into a family of musicians. His father, a cornettist and mother a pianist/singer.
At the age of 5 he began to take an interest in his Dads trumpet, before being banned from playing for a short while for losing his fathers best mouthpiece whilst playing outdoors!
Ian joined Flimby Saxhorn Silver Band on 3rd Cornet where his father was principal cornet, within 5 years he would take over the end chair himself.
Also around this time Ian became a founder member of the Cumbria Youth Brass Band under Richard Evans, who was to have a big impact on his career.
At the age of 16, Ian became the leader of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and led the band for three years in total.
Richard Evans invited Ian to join the Leyland Vehicles Band in 1984 and within 6 months he was the new principal cornet at the age of 17.
In 1987 He went on to play with Desford Colliery Band under James Watson, becoming National Champions 3 Years in succession.
Ian has toured extensively in New Zealand, Russia, USA, Canada, Austria, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Norway
and Spain. Highlights of these tours were solo performances at the following venues:
- Tchaikovsky Hall - Moscow Conservatoire
- Salvation Army Auditorium - Toronto
- University of Toronto
- University of Iowa
- Julliard School of Music - New York
Notable appearances for Ian in the UK include, the Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert
Hall, Bridgewater Hall and Birmingham Symphony Hall. Ian has also worked with many orchestras and in 1989 was guest soloist with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
Orchestra, in a recording of 'Summer' composed by Christopher Gunning. This was followed by a live performance
of the work with the RLPO in Leeds in 1991
In 1991, Ian moved to New Zealand to lead the St. Kilda band in winning their National Championships as
well as being appointed Principal Trumpet with the Dunedin Sinfonia.
On his return from New Zealand in 1992, Ian was appointed Principal Cornet with the Black Dyke
Mills Band, a position held by only five people in the previous forty years, leading them to victory at
the National Championships in the Royal Albert Hall in 1994. During this time he
played in such illustrious venues as the Carnegie Hall in New York and featured
as a soloist with Phillip Smith, Principal Trumpet with the New York
Philharmonic Orchestra.
In January 1995, Ian joined the Tredegar Town Band as Principal Cornet and resident
conductor. He also conducted the Tredegar Youth Band and took them from National youth section to
National 3rd section in two years.
1997 saw Ian accept an invitation to become Principal Cornet with the Yorkshire Building
Society Brass Band under Musical Director David King. In that year, the band retained its
European Champions title and became British Open Champions for the first time in
the bands history. At the same event, Ian was awarded the title of most
outstanding soloist.
In 1999 Ian became musical director of Pennine Brass, Taking them from the 2nd Section to the Championship section in 2 years., including consecutive
appearances at the National Brass Band Championships in 2000 & 2001 and
numerous other contest victories, including the French Open title in 2001.
Ian gained another 2 National Championship wins with the Williams Fairy Band in 2002 and 2003 under Alan Withington.
As well as working for Rochdale Music Service, Ian is also Director of Brass Band Studies at Birmingham Conservatoire;
tutor to the National Youth Brass Band and for the Band Studies course at Accrington and Rossendale College, again working with Richard Evans.
Ian has also recorded a joint solo CD with trombone player Brett Baker, entitled "Phenomenon".
Ian is married to Leanne, a fine cornettist herself and primary school teacher in Heywood;
in September 2006 they were delighted at the addition of Harry James to the Porthouse household!
