Ian Lake

Ian Lake (born January 26, 1935 in Quorn, Leicestershire, died August 12, 2004 in London, England) was a distinguished pianist, teacher and composer. He was a professor of piano at the Royal College of Music for nearly 30 years, and toured Britain and abroad as a recitalist and concerto soloist. Lake was seen as a champion of modern music and premiered many works written for him by young composers.

Lake was academically gifted, reading by the age of three, so his working class parents managed to get a scholarship for him to board at Trent College; his mother working as a chambermaid to help finance his education.

Upon leaving Trent, Lake did his National Service, where he played clarinet and viola in the army band. He then went to the Royal College of Music on a scholarship and made his London debut at the Royal Festival Hall in 1961. From 1966 until 1995, Lake held a teaching post at the Royal College of Music.

Lake's "Music of our Time Festival" ran in London venues from 1960 to 1970 and enabled hitherto unknown composers to showcase their music. Although modest about his own compositions, Lake produced a considerable body of work, mainly piano and chamber music, but these pieces were often for private consumption, celebrating the birth of his five children and later, five grandchildren, as well as being educational pieces for his musically gifted offspring.

Up until the final days before his death, Lake was preparing a performance of Ludwig van Beethoven's "First Piano Concerto" for a concert at St John's, Smith Square, London, to celebrate his 70th birthday in January 2005.

What appears to be not widely known is that Ian Lake was a convicted child molester and died a very lonely death having been ostracized by all his colleagues and also having lost his position at the Royal College of Music.

Obituary in prominent British newspaper The Independent (September 7th 2004): [ [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-121660582.html Obituary: Ian Lake; Pianist and champion of modern composers.(Obituaries) - The Independent (London, England) - HighBeam Research ] ]