Wolverhampton music teacher to retire after 33 years

As the director of music at Tettenhall College in Wolverhampton, Ian Wass has been the mastermind behind dozens of lavish musicals involving many pupils of all age groups at the school's Towers Theatre.

He also directs the school choirs, organises all the musical tuition and has prepared the pupils and parents for more than 30 professional performances at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.

Mr Wass was trained as a chorister, and won the organ scholarship at St John's York for three years. He sang with the York Minster Choir and was a member of the British Youth Choir. He has also worked as a tutor with the Royal School of Church Music and was an A level examiner in harmony for the OCR exam board.

He said: "I have had a most enjoyable time at the college, which is a very special place. With the support of the pupils and parents I have had many wonderful musical experiences, the highlights being the annual musical productions and the carol services."

Last year, Mr Wass attended the Queen's Buckingham Palace Garden Party, after being nominated by the school's chairman of governors Jeremy Woolridge, who praised the role he has played in the artistic side of the school since he joined in 1983.

Headmaster David Williams added: "Ian has been a fantastic servant to the school with his insistence on extremely high standards of performance but also his passionate belief in preserving our history and the holistic education that makes the school so special. He will be sorely missed."

He will be replaced as director of music by Miss Catharine Douglas, who joins the school from New Zealand where she has been head of music at Kirstin School, Auckland.