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Encouraged to take up composition by Herbert Howells, Philip Wilby graduated from Keble college, Oxford, in 1970. After a year as a professional violinist, he was invited by Alexander Goehr, then professor of music at Leeds University, to join his staff. He was senior tutor in composition there from 1984. More recently he was awarded a Doctorate in Composition and made Professor in 2002. Since January 2007, he has lived in Bristol where his wife Wendy has been serving as Canon Precentor at the cathedral.
Most of his major works are expressions of Christian faith and he enjoys tailoring his compositional technique to the very different demands of the skilled amateur or the finest professional. In 2008, he was granted a Dutch Government BUMA award for his innovative works for brass band and he is proud to have served as the musical associate at the world famous Black Dyke Band for fifteen years.
His recent CD “A Breathless Alleluia”, remained in the “Top 20 best selling CD” list in the Naxos catalogue and he has recorded a sequence of award winning CD compilations on the Doyen label.
Most recently, he was awarded an honorary fellowship by the Royal School of Church Music, whose citation noted his contribution to the musical repertoire of Cathedrals and Parish Churches in equal measure. |