Profile: Ian O'Malley
Wanganui born Ian O’Malley started his brass career on the Tenor Horn at the age of nine with Wanganui City Brass. After only a short while on the instrument he was taken under Kevin Jarrett’s wing and was fortunate enough to continue tuition with him right through until the end of his high school education at Wanganui High School.
He made the switch from Tenor Horn to Baritone very early on, on which he stayed until year 13. Ian achieved success during these years on the Baritone, winning six national junior solo and ensemble titles between the ages of 15 and 17, as well as representing Brass Wanganui in a number of National Secondary Schools Brass Bands and National Youth Brass Bands, holding the seat of 1st Baritone in the National Youth Brass Band and Principal Euphonium in the National Secondary Schools Brass Band.
In 2006 Ian moved to Dunedin to study music performance with Welsh Euphonium virtuosi Steve Miles at the University of Otago and he played with the St Kilda Brass Band. A month after his arrival in Dunedin he accompanied the band to Brisbane where he came 2nd in his field in the Australian National Brass Band championships. After the New Zealand National competition later that year, he made a permanent shift to the Euphonium.
During the following two years of his music degree he held the seat of Principal Euphonium for the St Kilda Band and for the National Youth Brass Band. In 2008 Ian worked part time at the Southern Brass Academy as both a conductor and itinerant brass teacher in many primary schools throughout Dunedin.
The next year Ian moved to Wellington to study education at Victoria University. He was again selected as Principal Euphonium for the National Youth Brass Band’s 50th anniversary tour to Japan in July, 2009. Ian moved to Hamilton after the Japan tour, where he still resides. He currently teaches a combined year 4 and 5 class at Marian School in Hamilton East. Ian travels up to Auckland on Monday and Thursday afternoons after school to play 2nd euphonium with Dalewool Auckland Brass.
