Phil suffered his first musical experience with a brown plastic recorder in his primary school in Grimsby. Despite this early set back, he soon took up the euphonium, playing in local brass bands. A family move to Kent precipitated a move on to the trombone. Following a year in the National Youth Orchestra, Phil went on to to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

During that time, Phil's interest in musical direction within musical theatre became his main focus and, after graduating, in 2004, he began to work on productions up and down the country. After passing several years at the Kenneth More Theatre in Ilford, MDing around 30 shows in 3 years, and working with Time of Our Lives Theatre, Phil became Assistant MD on Bill Kenwright's production of 'Blood Brothers', a job he remained in for 3 and half years, performing the show over 1200 times. He still returns frequently to dept on keys 2, and in August 2013, Phil was engaged to re-write the keys 2 part to complement a orchestral reduction and fresh keyboard programming.

Other notable work has included working with Tony Award winning writers Maltby & Shire on 'Take Flight' at the Mernier Chocolate Factory, and a workshop recording with Disney legends Richard and Robert Sherman.

Phil has been Head of Music at the Finch Stage School for the last 9 years, and also teaches for CPA Studios, both on their weekend school programme, and on the Trinity College (London) accredited professional 3 year musical theatre course.

As a composer, Phil has written scores for 3 pantomimes - Sleeping Beauty (2008) and Dick Whittington (2009), both with Tim Major and Melissa Waudby and most recently, Cinderella with Clifford Oliver for ARC Theatre. Phil has also written songs for 'Enterprise',  'Santa Claus and the Mystery of Rudolfs missing nose' (Tamworth SnowDome) and ‘Santa and the Missing Sleigh’ (Tamworth SnowDome). Last year, in collaboration with Clifford Oliver, their new musical ‘Brides’ reached the semi-finals of @westendproducer ‘Search for a Twitter Composer’. They then followed this success with a their new version of ‘Peter Pan and Wendy’, which premiered in October 2013 at the Woodville Halls, Gravesend, and then toured London and the South East.  In 2007, Phil co-produced, MD’d and orchestrated ‘...and all that jazz..” a touring musical theatre tribute show with 4 singers and a 10 piece orchestra.

Please visit www.and-all-that-jazz.co.uk for more information. Phil has a long history of pantomime musical direction, with over 10 years of experience. He worked at the Broadway, Barking from 2004 to 2012, MDing Dick Whittington (2004 and 2009 – composing the 2009 show), Cinderella (2007 and 2012 – composing 2012 show), Sleeping Beauty (2008 – as composer), Aladdin (2011). in 2013, Phil was MD for Aladdin for the Theatre Royal, Bury St. Edmonds.

For Phils full CV, please click here to download. - .pdf