Ian Hale received degrees in percussion performance from the University of Calgary and the University of Massachusetts Amherst where his teachers included Dr. Glenn Price, Eduardo Leandro, and DCI Hall of Fame member and Professor Emeritus at UMass, Thom Hannum. He has studied marimba with Leigh Howard Stevens, Gordon Stout, and She-e Wu. He was a member of the music faculty at UMass from 2007-2008 and is currently the Associate Director of the Minuteman Marching Band. He was the Assistant Director of Bands for the Calgary Stampede Showband from 2009-2011 and has served as Percussion Director for Spirit Winter Percussion from Orleans, Massachusetts since 2012.

Ian has worked with many national and international ensembles including the Calgary Stampede Showband, Spirit of America, Thomas Jefferson High School, Dartmouth Indoor Percussion, United Percussion where he has served as front ensemble arranger since 2017, Boston University, the Brazilian Vanguard, and the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band. He was a member of the percussion staff for the Madison Scouts, Carolina Crown, and the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. He is currently on the percussion staff for the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps where he has served since 2017.

Ian is endorsed by Pearl/Adams musical instruments, Vic Firth Inc., Zildjian Corporation, and Remo Inc.