Laura J. Davis

W. Ian Walker has written his autobiography Stirring MySoul to Sing, Overcoming Obstalces of ADHD that will soon be publishedin 2010. Ian has had this ADHD disorder since birth and was not officially diagnosed until 1997 when he first attended McMaster University, in Hamilton,ON.

In his book, Ian openly writes about “my amazing careers in Classical, Choral and Gospel Musicplus a Broadcasting career researching and interviewing and developing friendships with some of Gospel Music’s (Christian Contemporary Music- CCM) “legends”.These CCM Artists are also Grammy and Dove Award winners themselves such as SandiPatty, Steven Curtis Chapman, Randy Stonehill, Nancy Honeytree Miller, MarkLowry, Phil Driscoll and the Dean of CCM, Composer and Arranger, RalphCarmichael and many more.

Mr. Walker has had many ups and downs in his career as he shares in his book having a difficult relationship with his ex-wife, the birthof his daughter Christina and their ongoing relationship, plus the joys and sorrows that he has experienced adapting to his disability into his thirties to forties. Ian shares about having a fruitful relationship with “his blessed Elaine” and they been happily married for ten years.

When time permits, Ian also acts as a baritone soloist and worship leader forspecial events. Both Ian and his wife, Elaine, attend Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship (TACF) Brampton Campus andthey look forward to being involved within the Greater Toronto Area community of creative artists

As anactive baritone singer, chorister, conductor, arts administrator andprofessional fundraiser; Mr. W. IanWalker has been apart of some amazing ensembles during his over forty yearsof choral music making. These ensembles have included: Hamilton MennoniteChildren’s Choir Toronto MendelssohnYouth Choir, Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI) Young Artist VocalProgram, The University of Western Ontario, Faculty of Music Singers, London Pro Musica Chamber Ensemble and The Orpheus Choir of Toronto, since 2003 under the direction of Robert Cooper, C.M.(Order of Canada) Artistic Director. 

 Mr. Walker also worked as Arts Administrator and Fundraiser for 30 years, primarily with Choral and Orchestral organizationsin the areas of Public Relations, ArtsMarketing, Special Events and Fundraising duties in the Southern and Southwestern areas of Ontario. These arts or “non profit” organizations include: OrchestraLondon Canada, University of Western Ontario, Faculty of Music; London ProMusica Chamber Choir; London International Children’s Festival; Subway  World Gymnastics Challenge (Copp’s Coliseum); Hamilton’s Festival of Friends FolkFestival; The Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir; the Elmer Iseler Singers, The Orpheus Choir of Toronto and The Youth Choir for the Nations Canada.

Mr. Walker has formed two companies in Arts Marketing and Fundraising entitled Emlian Music Group (2000) & EmlianCommunications Group Inc. (2007).  The two companies have attracted many non-profit clients to the services offered in all aspects of Development to Arts Marketing services. Mr. Walker has his Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Film from McMaster University combined with a Post Graduate Certificate from Humber College’s Fundraising and Volunteer ManagementProgram. Mr. Walker is also a receiptant of The Imperial Oil Scholarship to the Banff Centre, School of Management- Development for Arts Administrators Program.

Ian Walker and Laura Davis have been friends for close to 20 years, since the early 1990's when Ian lived in London, ON  and they performed regularly with the late Ivan Hutton's "Sounds of Praise" television and outdoor music ministry.  Ian Walker is proud of Laura's achievements as a writer and looks forward to seeing more fruits of her labours in the near future.