Dr. Philip Wilby
We are delighted to welcome Dr. Philip Wilby as our new president – he was equally delighted to accept our invitation! He lives in the area and has many local connections, including being organist at St. Peter’s Church in Harrogate, writing the ‘Knaresborough Service’ for St. John’s Church here in Knaresborough and working with local schools and Harrogate Brigantes on ‘Circus of Life’, one of their Kids Aloud projects.A few more facts you may not know
Originally from Pontefract, Philip Wilby graduated from Keble college, Oxford, in 1970, where he had been encouraged to take up composition by Herbert Howells. 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, awarded a Doctorate in Composition and made Professor in 2002.
Philip Wilby has composed many works, particularly choral and for brass band. Often, they 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. He is proud to have served as the musical associate at the world-famous Black Dyke Band for fifteen years and many of his works are used as testpieces in contests all over the world.
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.
