Phillip Taylor, conductor

Phillip began his violin and viola studies with Villem Simek and John Curro in Brisbane, and continued his viola studies with Professor Jan Sedivka at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music. During that time, chamber music played an important role in his musical development with participation in masterclasses with many visiting string quartets, including those given by the Janacek and Berg Quartets being particularly valuable.

Phillip joined the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in 1976 as a violist and continued to perform with that orchestra until 1996. He was contract Principal Violist for several years during which he was involved in many recording and solo projects. He was also a guest violist with the Melbourne and Queensland Symphony Orchestras. In 1984 he accepted the position of violist in the Victorian String Quartet, which was an Artist-in-Residency project established by the Victorian Government to foster a love of chamber music in the regional centres of Victoria.

Phillip returned to the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in 1985 where he began to develop his conducting skills. He studied with many visiting international conductors who were on tour for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. These conductors were very generous in their willingness and enthusiasm to share their knowledge and experience with Phillip and since then, Phillip has conducted many orchestras around Australia. Indeed, it was through those conductors' encouragement and generosity that the desire to conduct came to the forefront. Phillip became Senior Conductor of the Tasmanian Youth Orchestra and in 1987 founded the Hobart Chamber Orchestra.

Phillip has conducted orchestras ranging from youth orchestras to professional chamber orchestras including The Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. This continues the tradition he established with the Hobart Chamber Orchestra.

On return to Queensland in 1997, Phillip has been involved in many musical projects including Festival Co-ordinator for the 4MBS Festival 2000, and founding Musical Director/Conductor of Orchestra Pro Musica. He has been seen on the Concert platform as both conductor and chamber musician. Phillip has also continued his tertiary studies mastering in conducting. In addition, he has maintained his work as a Conductor/Music Director for many youth music projects nurturing and developing our next generation of musicians.

From this brief history, it becomes clear that one of Phillip's greatest joys is the performance of classical music and the sharing of that joy with as many others as possible.

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