Ian McMillan was born in Lancashire and is one of this country’s leading conductors/presenters of music from Stage & Screen- specialising in film & TV music, musicals, opera, operetta & ballet.

He made his London conducting debut at The Barbican whilst still studying at The Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and his West End conducting debut aged 24, when he was Music Director of The London Palladium production of the MGM stage version of 'Singin in the Rain'. Several other West End Shows followed – including The London Palladium touring production of Oliver!

Ian is Artistic Director of The London Pops Orchestra & Singers and as Principal Conductor celebrates his 23rd season with the ‘Orchestra for Entertainment’ introducing & conducting at all of the major concert venues including The Royal Albert Hall, Barbican & South Bank London, Symphony Hall Birmingham, St David’s Hall Cardiff, The Clyde Auditorium Glasgow, & unusual locations including The Rock of Cashel Ireland, Woking Football Pitch & The Natural History Museum.

Ian is also Artistic Director of London Operetta! he formed in 1988 & since then he has introduced & conducted several hundred of their popular ‘Gilbert & Sullivan From Scratch’ performances where the audience are the chorus!

He was Music Director for the revival of The Carl Rosa Opera Company conducting over 400 performances of Operetta to critical acclaim nationwide including 'The Mikado', 'Iolanthe', 'The Yeoman of The Guard', & 'Die Fledermaus.'

Ian has guest conducted both The BBC Concert & BBC Radio Orchestras for BBC Radio 2 in 'Friday Night is Music Night' & 'Songs From The Shows'; The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in recording sessions; numerous TV ‘specials’ for all of the major TV networks; The Welsh National Opera & Birmingham Royal Ballet on tour; & The Bournemouth Symphony, The Northern Sinfonia, The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus,  The Royal Choral Society & The New York City Pops Orchestra in concert.

He has appeared  on TV with John Thaw in 'Kavanagh QC' for Carlton TV, James Wilby & Susan Hampshire in 'Sparkling Cyanide' for Thames TV, & was Music Director for Honor Blackman’s two Internationally touring shows ‘Dishonorable Ladies’& Wayward Women.

Artistic Director Ian McMillan and Executive Director Quentin Poole with Patrons Gloria Hunniford and David Jacobs DL MBE.

Orchestral Personnel Ian McMillan - Principal Conductor / Artistic Director Quentin Poole - Executive Director Steve Dinwoodie - Personnel Manager Patrons: David Jacobs DL MBE Gloria Hunniford Barbara Knox

Recent Star Singers and Guest Presenters include the following, although we are happy to ask any Star Presenter of your choice subject to availability.

Honor Blackman – Film & Television
Petula Clark – International Singer
Helen Hobson – Musicals/Television
Ronnie Corbett – Comedian
Gary Wilmot - Television and Musicals
Kim Criswell - International Musicals/ Opera/ Cabaret
Marilyn Hill Smith - BBC Radio 2 / International Soprano
Barbara Knox - Television / Cabaret / Coronation Street
Su Pollard - Television and Theatre
Rosie Ashe - BBC Radio 2 / Musicals / Opera
John Ayldon - International Gilbert & Sullivan / Opera Artist
John Leslie - Television Presenter
Toby Anstis - Television Presenter
Tim Vincent - Presenter / Actor
Mary Carewe - Radio / Musicals / Opera
Jacqui Scott - Radio / Musicals / Television
Jacqui Dankworth - Musicals / Jazz / Cabaret / Concerts
Henry Kelly - Presenter / Radio / Television
Glyn Kerslake - Musicals / Radio
Michael Dore - Musicals / Concerts
David Jacobs - Radio / Television Presenter