Ian Burdge graduated from the University of Surrey, where he studied with Alexander Baillie and was awarded the Robert Naylor Memorial Prize, as well as spending a year at the University of North Texas, learning with Carter Enyeart of the Philadelphia Quartet.
After graduating he co-founded the string session group, Millennia Ensemble, and spent his early years in London as a member of the band Drugstore, resident musician for Corali Dance Co, alongside performing in acclaimed musical theatre productions, including touring on Beauty and the Beast and Miss Saigon.
Ian has been a long term member Max Richter Ensemble, the Nitin Sawhney band and performed live with a range of renowned ensembles including the Jules Buckley Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, LSO and LCO, The Heritage Orchestra, New Blood Orchestra with Peter Gabriel. Tours include Rosas Dance Co with the Duke Quartet, Jocelyn Pook, Natasha Atlas Mazeeka ensemble, Hans Zimmer, John Metcalfe as well as live shows for Stevie Wonder, U2, The Who, amongst others. Ian enjoys collaborating and writing orchestrations for artists such as Jasdeep Singh Degun, Doves, Garou and Elbow and has arranged and played live music for Harris Reed’s shows, opening London Fashion Week in 2024 & 2025.
He now works predominantly as a session cellist on film soundtracks as well as pop, television, film and video games. He has featured on numerous studio recordings such as Radiohead, Kylie, Florence and the Machine and Paul McCartney. Recent films include Wonka, No Time To Die, Batman, Andor, How To Train Your Dragon , David Attenborough: Ocean and Pedro Almadovar’s Room Next Door.
He is a frequent chamber musician with various groups and has been instrumental in playing and organising regular chamber concerts in the Goodness Brewery & other London venues.
Ian plays on an English Cello by John Betts c1790
