Born in the UK in 1956, award-winning, freelance classical composer Philip Oxtoby has more than three decades of experience as an orchestral composer.
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.
After leaving the Army he studied composition with Christopher Roe and, later, the UK composer Andrew Downes.
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.