Ian is probably best known for his highly successful BBC Television series " I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing", which has been shown to great acclaim all over the world. Ian is also acknowleged as one of the foremost vocal coaches in the world and his skills and talents are sought by performers, directors and producers in theatre, television and film throughout the world. Trevor Nunn (Royal Shakespeare Company) has said: Ian's collaboration with Andrew Lloyd-Webber has been a major influence in the british Music Theatre.

Ian started his distinquished musical life as a child prodigy singer, making his debut in Mozart's "Exultate Jubilate", at eight years old in Scotland. Within a few years he had sung in concerts and oratorio throughout the United Kingdom. Studying in London, Paris and Munich his singing career covered major festivals, recital tours and International Opera. He has worked with Sargent, Boult, Barbirolli, Benjamin Britten, Claudio Abbado, Bernstein, Bonynge and Solti. Folowing continued study in Germany and Switzerland Ian moved into teaching. One of his first pupils won a prize in the highly acclaimed "Concours International de Musique d'Opera" in Geneva. This success was followed by another pupil winning the soprano-prize in the "S-Hertogenbosch International" competion in the Netherlands. Soon Ian began teaching and preparing artists for roles on the London and Broadway stages, in film and in recording studios. Ian has worked for the National Theatre, London and Royal Shakespeare Company, London. He worked on the London and International production of "Les Miserables" and "Miss Saigon". He has directed various opera's in London, including the first production of Haydn's "La Vera Constanza". Andrew Lloyd-Webber sought Ian's expetise on the original production of "Cats", where Ian worked closely with Andrew, Gillian Lynne and the cast of the pre-production of the show. He then went on to further collaborate with Andrew on both the London and the New York production of "Phantom of The Opera", working with Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. His next project was to work with Sarah on the world premiere in New York of Andrew's "Requiem", and he continued working in London with Andrew's "Aspects of Love"In the U.S.A., Ian was employed as vocal coach for the revival of "My Fair Lady" with Rex Harrison. In 1984, he worked on Broadway in Charles Strousse's "Dance a little Closer". In 1991 Ian worked at the New York City Opera on Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music". He has worked for Merchant Ivory Films and Walt Disney Pictures, among others with Jeremy Irons and Rowan Atkinson in "The Lion King"- for which the team was awarded an Oscar. He worked with Robin Williams on "The Prince of Thieves", in "Eldorado" with Kenneth Branagh for Steven Spielberg's company, Dreamworks. This led Ian to be engaged as Vocal Director for Kenneth Branagh's film of Shakespeare's "Love's Labours Lost".Most recently Ian has worked with Michael Crawford and Martin Crewes on Andrew Lloyd-Webber's latest production "Woman in White". Ian regularly gives masterclasses and workshops throughout Scandinavia, which he has done since 1983. In 1996 Ian directed and presented a month of public masterclasses at Dramaten in Stockholm, with a galakoncert for the Queen of Sweden and other members of the royal family. - The same year he was awarded the "Wilhelm Hansen Foundation Special Award of Honour" for his tremendous contribution to danish Music Theatre.To date pupils include: Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, Michael Ball, Jeremy Irons, Elaine Page, Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Susan Hampshire, Anthony Andrews, Lulu, Emma Thompson, Barbara Dickson, Twiggy, Joan Collins, Lorna Dallas, Jonathan Pryce, Patricia Hodge, Wayne Sleep, Georgina Hale, Ian Mc Kellan, Terence Stamp, Stephanie Lawrence, Tom Conti, Millicent Martin, Robin Williams, Bonnie Langford, Martin Schmidt, Sian Phillips, Kenneth Branagh, members of The Royal Family and many more.

Ian Adam died in 2007.