The tuba stuck and became Philip’s main study. This led him initially down the route of the brass band, and he enjoyed many years performing with several renowned bands in the north-east of England; performing on a regular basis and competing at national level. His career took a surprising turn, working in the hospitality and catering industry at management level before moving to music retail and teaching privately. Philip then realised that teaching was his passion and so, he completed his PGCE at York St.John University in 2001. His teaching career began as Head of Music in a secondary school in the north-east of England, before spending twelve years as Director of Music for a high performing non-selective independent school in the same part of the country. Philip finds it exciting to be working with such a dynamic department and enjoys working with such motivated students. He firmly believes that Music should be fun and that students develop their musicality much more successfully when they are collaborating with each other, sharing ideas, making mistakes, making too much noise and enjoying themselves!
Philip lives and works in Shanghai with his wife Katherine, who also teaches at BISS, and their son William. He is a keen composer/arranger, frustrated golfer, Middlesbrough FC supporter and Lego builder.