The Conductor

Phillip Goodwin
Musical Director

Phillip Goodwin was born in Stoke-on-Trent and began playing the tuba at the age of twelve. A former member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, he moved to Manchester to study with the late Stuart Roebuck at the Royal Manchester College of Music.

After graduating from college, he became a freelance player and teacher, playing with many orchestras including the Halle, BBC Philharmonic, Welsh National Opera, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Manchester Camerata, with whom he is still principal tuba. He also co-founded a quintet, ‘Quintessential Brass’ with which he is still involved, especially in education projects and workshops.

However, brass bands have always been an important element in Phillip’s life both as a player and as a conductor. He played with the famous C.W.S (Manchester) Band for fourteen years until he moved to Black Dyke Mills Band in 1985, where he is currently the longest serving member. His playing has taken him all over the world, with concerts in Japan, Africa, U.S.A., Australia, Bermuda, Canada and innumerable trips to Europe and Scandinavia. He has been involved in many master classes both in England and Europe and notably at the Julliard School in New York. He has made many broadcasts on TV and on radio as well as recording film soundtracks. Phil has also performed on over fifty commercial recordings, not only with brass bands and orchestras but also with artists as diverse as Tori Amos, Fairport Convention, The Beautiful South, Peter Gabriel and Sir Elton John.

Phil has conducted several bands but since 1980 he has been Musical Director of the Delph Band, enjoying many contest successes including North West Area Championships, Pontin’s Championships and National Championships of Great Britain.

Phillip now juggles his time between conducting and playing commitments with his full-time job as Director of Music at a major independent school in Manchester.