Ian Axness is a conductor, coach and collaborative pianist with a wide-ranging passion for music+theatre and song performance. Currently Resident Music Director and Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre at the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music, Ian is a versatile educator committed to exploring and expanding the past, present and future of American musical theatre. He served as music director for the NYC premiere of Beardo by Dave Malloy and Jason Craig (Pipeline Theatre, Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Music) and has collaborated on plays, pop-up performances, improv sets, hybrid recitals, cabarets and countless musicals-in-development.  

His work includes productions at Juilliard, New York Philharmonic, NY City Center Encores, The 92nd Street Y, Ars Nova, Joe's Pub, NYU Skirball Center, Barrow Street Theatre, New Dramatists, Abrons Arts Center, Two River Theatre, Oberlin College-Conservatory, Opera in the Ozarks, and New York University Abu Dhabi. Ian served on the faculty of Playwrights Horizons Theater School from 2012 to 2017, and has worked as a teaching artist with Living Arts Collaborative and The Performing Arts Project.