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The English bass-baritone, singing teacher and choral director, Philip (Phil) Wilcox, studied at the Thomas Hardye School in Dorset (1999-2004), where he began his vocal training and sang with the Chapel Choir (Director: Peter Oakes). Following this he took a gap year in which he performed regularly with choirs, often as a soloist, travelled Southern Ireland with his accordion playing and studying traditional music, and appeared frequently on the Dorset jazz scene. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts (hons) Degree in Music Studies at Leeds College of
Music (LCM) majoring in vocal performance and composition and taking minor electives in improvisation and conducting (2005-2008). He studied singing with German baritone Christian Immler and took part in the Opera Studies modules co-ordinated by Jane Anthony and Marion Raper. On graduating LCM, he won the Douglas Robinson memorial prize for opera and continued to study with Paul Nilon at the start of his professional career.
Philip Wilcox has recently moved to London to study with Alexander Ashworth and Audrey Hyland at the Royal Academy of Music where he has appeared as Kalenik in the RAOpera production of May Night (Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov), Liberto (cover) in L’Incoronazione di Poppea (Monteverdi), Rambaldo in scenes from La Rondine (Puccini) and as Minskman in scenes from Flight (Dove). He has been a soloist and chorister for the RAM/Kohn Foundation - J.S. Bach: The Cantatas and has given recitals at The Wigmore Hall and Marylebone Parish Church; performed in a public masterclass with Dennis O’Neill; and delivered education projects at Hackney Empire, RAM Museum and Glyndebourne. He is proud to be a member of the Academy’s prestigious Song Circle and grateful to be supported by the Josephine Baker Trust.
Philip Wilcox has appeared regularly as an oratorio soloist, recitalist and professional chorister throughout the country performing as soloist for works such as: George Frideric Handel's Messiah and Samson; J.S. Bach's St Matthew Passion (BWV 244), St John Passion (BWV 245), and Luke Passion (BWV 246); Felix Mendelssohn's Elijah; Orff's Carmina Burana; Dvořák's Stabat Mater, and Glass's Songs of Milarepa, Haydn's Nelson Mass, Victoria's Requiem, Grieg's Salmer, Weill's Mahagonny Singspiel, William Lloyd-Webber's The Saviour, Monteverdi's Vespers, Cavalli's Vespers, Johannes Brahms' Requiem. He has performed several roles with 'Young Opera Venture' including The Count in W.A. Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro and Papageno in W.A. Mozart's The Magic Flute. 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
In addition to his work with St. Peters Singers, Philip Wilcox currently sings, often as a soloist, with the Leeds Guild of Singers (Director: Graham Coatman) who perform a wide spectrum of music from early polyphony to premiering new choral works by contemporary composers, and with Ecclesia, a young choir formed by recent graduates of Leeds University and College of Music.
Operatic roles include Il Conte di Almaviva and Papageno in W.A. Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro and The Magic Flute; The Earl of Dunmow in Berkeley's A Dinner Engagement and Peter in Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, Klunker in Suppé's Zehn Mädchen und kein Mann and Der Zar in Kurt Weill's Der Zar lässt sich photographieren.
Recent engagements have included solo, choral and small group concerts in and around the Leeds/Yorkshire area, performances of G.F. Handel's Messiah and Passion of Christ, Howard Goodall's Eternal Light: A Requiem, J.S. Bach's St John Passion (BWV 245), Haydn's The Creation, Monteverdi's Vespers 1610, Edward German's Merrie England and a performance of W.A. Mozart's Requiem in his home county, Dorset. Future engagements include a recital at the Hexham Abbey Festival and performances of J.S. Bach's Cantata BWV 140 and St Matthew Passion (BWV 244) with St Peter's Singers of Leeds.
Philip Wilcox' most recent engagements include singing in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of King Lear at the Barbican Theatre; a recital of Johannes Brahms's Liebeslieder Walzer for Oxford Lieder; a master-class with Dame Felicity Lott for the London Song Festival; and performing Scarpia in Opera on Location’s production of Tosca. He was a member of the Chorus of Buxton Opera Festival and covered the roles of Capellio in Bellini's I Capuleti e i Montecchi and Don Fernando in L.v. Beethoven's Leonore for their 2016 season.
Philip Wilcox has been Part-time Lecturer at Leeds College of Music (April 2009-July 2011); Singing Teacher at Bradford Academy (September 2010-July 2015); Director of the Metronomes (a choir for Leeds Met Uni) at Leeds Beckett University (2011-July 2015); Bass Lay Clerk at Manchester Cathedral (September 2013-July 2015).
Philip Wilcox 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.He currently lives in Harrow, England. |
