Having already gained two ARCM's under Alan Stringer MBE (Principal trumpet RLPO) at Mabel Fletcher College in teaching & performance at 19 in Liverpool, Phil gained a place as a postgraduate at the RNCM in trumpet and conducting, and joined Manchester CWS on arrival in Manchester leaving his old band Edge Hill British Rail under the baton of Bob Dean. Within the time at the RNCM he worked with the BBCPO, The Halle, Opera North, Liverpool Phil, Scottish Chamber & Manchester Camerata, Boston Ballet & the Royal Opera. Also, at that time he composed fanfares for the Duchess of Kent at the RNCM, and sort compositions for the BBC Northwest Nationwide.

On moving to London, Phil worked with the Royal Opera, Philharmonia, Wren Orch, BBCSO, Philamusica, Saddlers Wells, and recorded various sound tracks and two West End shows. He took the solo platform for two years and became an endorsee of Signature (DEG) Trumpets, and appeared at the Cheltenham Festival, Bromsgrove, Alsager, recorded a piccolo album with Ian Tracy at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, and performing the Arutunian Concerto at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall which received rave reviews in the Daily Telegraph.

Now, a full time composer giving up professional playing in 1989, he now runs his own studio with over 240 TV & radio & film credits inc. ad's such as Nike & The Times, Wrigley's, Ibuleve, Classic fm, Cornflakes & RBS. Phil also runs his publishing company, ELMS Publications (60+ titles). This publishes music for brass bands in general and educational music for AS level, band trainers & wind band. The last three years has seen 14 premiers from his pen, Richard Marshall premiered Phil's cornet concerto in New Zealand & the UK and this has recently been recorded on the Doyen & SP&S label with Grimethorpe, BLAZE. His new Championship test piece (premiered in NZ 2002 & OZ 2003) "Gregoritas" will be premiered by the Yorkshire Co-Op Band on Jan 2006 in Norwich, and last year Phil was nominated for the British Academy Composers award in conjunction with Radio 3.

Phil has recently completed a score for a feature film which is now being distributed from Los Angles. Last year saw him appointed Professor at Liverpool Uni as head of Composition for TV & Film. More recently he has had a Radio 2 World Premier broadcast on "Friday Night Is Music Night" BBCCO, and presently finished a commission from Liverpool & Sefton going to their Capitol of Culture Year, "Liverpool's Heritage to be premiered 2004 Nov 26th. In the very near future he starts an epic Sci-Fi/martial arts feature film for Golden Harvest/Columbia Pictures.