Phil’s most recent engagements include playing the roles of The Major General Pirates of Penzance, Sullivan for Merry Opera’s production which was performed under the Cutty Sark; Gianni Schicchi (Puccini); Don Geronio (Il Turco in Italia, Rossini) for Proper Opera’s education production; Sir Thomas Bertram (Mansfield Park, Dove) for Waterperry Opera Festival’s inaugural season; Ataliba (Alzira, Verdi) for Buxton Festival Opera; and Count Almaviva in Merry Opera’s jazz production of The Marriage of Figaro. In April 2018 he sang in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of King Lear at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York.

 

Born in Dorset, Phil attended the Thomas Hardye School where he began his vocal training and sang with the Chapel Choir. In 2008 he completed a BA (hons) Degree in Music Studies at Leeds College of Music where he studied singing with Christian Immler and Jane Anthony. He graduated with the Douglas Robinson Memorial Prize for Opera and continued to study with Paul Nilon at the start of his professional career.

 

In 2017 Phil graduated from a Master’s degree course at the Royal Academy of Music where he studied with Alex Ashworth and Audrey Hyland. During his time at the Academy he appeared as Kalenik in the RAOpera production of May Night (Rimsky-Korsakov), Polyphemus in Acis and Galatea (Handel, Semi-staged) Liberto (cover) in L’Incoronazione di Poppea (Monteverdi), Rambaldo in La Rondine (Puccini, scenes), Minskman in Flight (Dove, scenes), Demetrius in Midsummer Night’s Dream (Britten, scenes) and Jonathan in Siren Song (Dove, scenes). He was also a soloist and chorister for the RAM/Kohn Foundation Bach Cantata Series and gave recitals at The Wigmore Hall and Marylebone Parish Church. He performed in a public masterclass with Dennis O’Neill; delivered education projects at Hackney Empire, RAM Museum and Glyndebourne; and was very proud to be a member of the Academy’s prestigious Song Circle and grateful to be supported by the Josephine Baker Trust.

 

Since graduating from the RAM, Phil continues to forge a career in operatic performance and has sung as a principal soloist for Buxton Festival Opera, Retrospect Opera, Merry Opera Company, XOGA, Proper Opera, Opera on Location and Young Opera Venture.

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Phil has appeared regularly as an oratorio soloist, recitalist and professional chorister throughout the country performing as soloist for works such as: Messiah (Handel); St Matthew, John and Luke Passions (Bach); Elijah (Mendelssohn); Carmina Burana (Orff); Stabat Mater (Dvořák) and Songs of Milarepa (Glass). He has been a Lay Clerk for the cathedrals of Bradford and Manchester and performed with the BBC Singers. He has delivered education programmes for Opera North, Hull University, Leeds Lieder + and NHS training Academy and has directed choirs for Leeds Beckett University, Music in Offices and Bradford Academy.

 

Phil also enjoys playing the piano accordion in ceilidh bands and at sessions and folk festivals throughout the UK and finds inspiration and refreshment through long walks in the country.

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www.philwilcox.com