Born in the UK in 1956, award-winning, freelance classical composer Philip Oxtoby has more than three decades of experience as an orchestral composer.
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He took up playing the clarinet from a young age, achieving Grade 8 (ABRSM) in clarinet performance.
Philip became a musician with the British Armed Forces, studying music, including orchestration and composition, at the prestigious Kneller Hall, the Army School of Music.
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After leaving the Army he studied composition with Christopher Roe and, later, the UK composer Andrew Downes.
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Awards for composition include first place in the Grantham Music Festival (Concerto Grosso) , the Cornelius Cardew Memorial prize (Three Pieces for Xylophone & Piano) , and the British Midland Institute Award ( the song cycle 'Evening Shadows') .
His extensive portfolio includes four symphonies, a piano concerto, a concerto for soprano saxophone and strings, together with numerous chamber and choral works.