Phil Wilcox

Full Biography

(If you require a biography for a programme, please request one from me)

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

In 2015 I moved to London to study at the Royal Academy of Music. I graduated with a Masters in Vocal Performance in 2017 after studying with Alex Ashworth and Audrey Hyland and a few years later became a Licentiate of the RAM. During my time at the Academy, I appeared as Kalenik in the RAOpera production of May Night (Rimsky-Korsakov), Polyphemus in Acis and Galatea (Handel, Semi-staged) and Liberto (cover) in L’Incoronazione di Poppea (Monteverdi). I was a soloist and chorister for the RAM/Kohn Foundation Bach Cantata Series (Iain Ledingham) and gave recitals at The Wigmore Hall and Marylebone Parish Church. I performed in a public masterclass with Dennis O’Neill; delivered education projects at Hackney Empire, RAM Museum and Glyndebourne Opera. I 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 RAM, I continue to forge a career in operatic performance and have sung as a soloist for Grange Park Opera, English Touring Opera, Buxton Festival Opera, Northern Opera Group, Retrospect Opera, Merry Opera Company, XOGA, Devon Opera, Felici Opera, Proper Opera, Opera on Location and Young Opera Venture. For a full list of credits please download my most recent performance CV below.

For nearly twenty years I have appeared regularly as an oratorio soloist up and down the country performing as for works such as: Messiah, Samson and Israel in Egypt (Handel); St Matthew, John and Luke Passions (Bach); Elijah (Mendelssohn); Stabat Mater (Dvořák); Verdi Requiem; Eternal Light: A Requiem (Goodall); and Songs of Milarepa (Glass). I am an ad hoc singer with a number of professional consorts including the BBC Singers, Platinum Consort (Scott Inglis-Kidger) and on the Philharmonia Chorus Professional Singer Scheme (Gavin Carr). I’m a regular at many London churches including Royal Hospital Chelsea; St Paul’s Cathedral; Chapel Royal St James Palace; Guards Chapel; Brompton Oratory; Southwark Cathedral; and have had the pleasure of being a Lay Clerk for the cathedrals of Bradford and Manchester.

I am proud to be the Learning and Participation Manager for Leeds Lieder where I coordinate and deliver workshops in schools and the wider community to introduce new audiences to Classical Song. I've worked as a workshop leader with Bradford Cathedral, Wigmore Hall, Opera North, RAM Open Academy and Hull University and have delivered projects for the NHS Training Academy, the Leadership Foundation for HE, Endemol, Enotria&Coe, Amnesty International, Bank of England and Surbiton High School to name a few.

My first foray into choral direction was in 2009 when I was approached to start a choir for Leeds Metropolitan University (now Leeds Beckett). Since then, I have directed a number of ensembles and currently direct groups based in three different law firms for Music in Offices and a community choir, Fleet Singers, based in Gospel Oak. My approach to choir leadership is to inspire a positive and encouraging atmosphere whilst also pushing for quality music-making. Alongside concerts of substantial works with soloists and ensemble accompaniment, my groups also mount their own less formal revue style concerts, Come and Sing events and spectacular carol services.

During the lockdowns of 2020/21 I kept myself busy, as so many artists had to, in adapting to online and virtual working situations. I produced video and recorded performances, delivered online rehearsals and workshops, and developed many new skills, all of which will continue to be useful into the future. Creating and editing video content to as high a quality as possible with minimal budget and equipment became day to day and I found myself in demand to create content for opera companies and choirs.

I celebrate the fulfilment and viability of a portfolio career in the arts and remain active in a number of musical disciplines and performance settings. Alongside my work on the more formal concert platform, I also enjoy playing the piano accordion and bass guitar in ceilidh bands and at folk festivals throughout the UK and Europe. For what is left of my time, outside of music I enjoy long walks in the Lakes, the Peaks and the Dales and making and drinking delicious coffee.