Musical Theatre

Music Notation, Composition & Arranging

Conducting

Performance

Education & Creativity

Music Technology

For over 25 years, Phil has worked extensively in music education, teaching and managing music departments in Chelmsford and Brentwood and at Colchester Institute as the Head of School of Music, Media and Performing Arts at University Centre Colchester. He now lectures in Musical Theatre at Rom Theatre Arts in Great Dunmow, on the BA Hons Musical Theatre degree validated by the University of Chichester.

Now focussing on his freelance career as performer, composer and arranger, he is regionally and internationally known for his musical works and performances especially with Tubular Bells Live!, The George Harrison Project, and his orchestral works at Ely Cathedral with Jeremy Harmer and the Ely Sinfonia and collaborations with Steve Bingham of the Bingham Quartet, both live and through engaging music videos on YouTube,

Other musical activities include conducting local choirs, performing in theatre pit orchestras and conducting musical theatre societies around Essex.

Inspired by musicians such as Mike Oldfield, ELO, the Beatles and string arrangers from the 1960s onwards, Phil is a multi-instrumentalist who is known for his fast turnaround on orchestral and string arrangements and original compositions. Phil worked extensively with singer Judy Dyble (Fairport Convention, Trader Horne, Giles, Giles & Fripp) as orchestrator and band member.  Phil has also worked with film composers Bob and Barn, Jon Anderson (Yes), Tom Newman (Tubular Bells) and in the 1990s the composer David Bedford. Look out for new releases of Phil’s own material updated in his personal blog here.

In addition to being passionate about film and film music, which he collects and fervently analyses, Phil was part of the creative team behind “Doctor Puppet” – a US/UK animated fan series featuring the characters of Doctor Who, orchestrating the score by Scott Ampleford.
Having co-hosted an award winning radio show with Scott Ampleford for 3 years, Phil was a regular guest on the Tony Fisher show on BBC Essex discussing the arts and is still heard on air from time to time.

In his spare time, which is rare, Phil collects different editions of the Wicked Series novels by Gregory Maguire, and anything to do with Back to the Future.