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Phil Toms

Music, Media and Performing Arts

About Phil

For 25 years, Phil has worked extensively in music education, teaching and managing music departments in Chelmsford and Brentwood and at Colchester Institute as the Head of School of Music, Media and Performing Arts at University Centre Colchester. He now lecturers in Professional Musical Theatre at degree level at ROM Theatre Arts in Great Dunmow.

Now focusing on his freelance career as performer, composer and arranger, he is regionally and internationally known for his musical works and performances especially with Tubular Bells Live!, his orchestral works at Ely Cathedral with Jeremy Harmer and the Ely Sinfonia and collaborations with Steve Bingham of the Bingham Quartet, both live and through engaging music videos on YouTube,

Phil regularly works with many of the key arts providers in Essex and beyond, including the Royal Opera House Bridge, Mercury Theatre, Headgate Theatre, Dance Network Association, Film Suffolk, Game Anglia and Essex Music Education Hub.

Other musical activities include conducting local choirs and theatre groups, leading workshops, performing in theatre pit orchestras and performing around the UK with the George Harrison Project and his Tubular Bells Live band.

Phil has been working with singer and poet Shephali Frost on a collaborative project called "Ancestral Voices" combining a fusion of traditional Indian song and instrumental with a jazz combo.

Inspired by musicians such as Mike Oldfield, ELO, the Beatles and string arrangers from the 1960s onwards, Phil is a multi-instrumentalist who is known for his fast turnaround on orchestral and string arrangements and original compositions. Phil worked extensively with the late Judy Dyble (Fairport Convention, Trader Horne, Giles, Giles & Fripp) as orchestrator and band member. Phil has also worked with film composers Bob and Barn, Jon Anderson (Yes), Tom Newman (Tubular Bells) and in the 1990s the composer David Bedford.

In addition to being passionate about film and film music, which he collects and fervently analyses, Phil is a regular guest on the BBC Essex discussing the arts. He is a also a huge Back to the Future fan!

Two classical music albums of original compositions: Episodes for Strings (performed by the Bingham Quartet) and Wind Suites (performed by the Maestro Wind Quintet) are available on CD, Amazon Music Unlimited, Apple Music and Spotify.

Other recordings are with Judy Dyble, Jeremy Harmer, Steve Bingham and Tubular World.

Albums available now: Episodes for Strings and Wind Suites and other albums (string arranging)

Tubular Bells Live! Tour Promo 2021

String Arranging: The Carol of Seasons - Jeremy Harmer

The Great War Overture at Ely Cathedral (rehearsal)