Ian Wright joined the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra as a percussionist in 1965 and was Principal Timpanist from 1966 until leaving the Orchestra in 2007.  He was Director of Percussion Studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester from 1981 until 2010 and continues on staff there as tutor in timpani. In 1993, he established the RNCM Day of Percussion, the first of its kind in the UK, and was Artistic Director from then until 2010. He was made a Fellow of the College in 1988.  Ian was involved in the preparation of the first percussion syllabus for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and composed pieces for the four books of the Graded Course for Timpani.  Since 1973, he has coached the percussion section of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.  In 2007, he was given a Sabian Lifetime Achievement award.