Ian Edlund

Ian Edlund (1942-2020) was a nationally-recognized music educator. He held B.A. and M.A. degrees in music from Washington State University. Ian retired after a distinguished 35-year career as orchestra director for North Thurston High School in Lacey, Washington, where his groups regularly achieved top honors for their performances. For 27 years, he was Music Director and Conductor of the Olympia Symphony Orchestra, bringing that organization to the forefront among larger community orchestras in the Northwest. In 1995 he was the recipient of the prestigious Outstanding School Educator Award given by the American String Teachers Association. After his retirement, he served as a resource for string teachers, offering clinics, inservice workshops and a variety of other services through his organization, String Instrument Specialists. All of the compositions and arrangements in Ian Edlund's catalog have been produced with the needs of student players in mind and are particularly notable for providing engaging opportunities for all the instruments of the orchestra. His compositions are regularly performed at state and national festivals, as well as in schools throughout the country.