Philip Turbett

Philip Turbett (born 15 June, 1961 in Omagh, Northern Ireland) is a British bassoonist and clarinettist also specialising in historically informed performance.

Orchestral career

Philip Turbett was a member of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the English Baroque Soloists, the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, the Academy of Ancient Music, the New Queen's Hall Orchestra and the London Classical Players. He has worked with many leading orchestras including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia, English National Ballet, the Hanover Band, London Baroque, CM 90, The English Concert and other freelance orchestras. He has appeared on over 100 recordings, of which many have received awards from the music industry.

He has worked with a wide range of distinguished conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Charles Mackerras, Sir Roger Norrington, Sir Andrew Davis, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Sir Neville Marriner, Sir Mark Elder, Frans Brüggen, Vladimir Jurowski, Edward Gardner, Paul Daniel and Daniel Harding.

His work has taken him to Australia, Japan, America, South America, Canada, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and all the major European cities. He has performed at all the major concert halls across the world including the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall (New York), the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (New York), Symphony Hall (Boston) and Symphony Center (Chicago), Suntory Hall (Tokyo), and all the major European venues. He has also performed regularly at London's Southbank Centre, the Barbican Centre, the Royal Festival Hall, annually at Glyndebourne Opera House, the BBC Proms, the Edinburgh International Festival and other major UK festivals.

Philip performed in the BBC's Millennium Concert from Ely Cathedral conducted by Sir Simon Rattle and broadcast live on BBC Television and BBC Radio 3 and in the summer of 2000 he appeared at three of the BBC's Proms including the concert to commemorate the anniversary of Bach's death which was also broadcast live on BBC Television & BBC Radio 3. He performed during 2000 in concerts as part of the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage [Bach Cantata Pilgrimage [http://www.monteverdiproductions.co.uk/about_us/bcp.cfm] ] with Sir John Eliot Gardiner and the English Baroque Soloists.

Reviews

: "negotiated the concerto-like demands with graceful ease" [The Independent, November 1996]

: "faultless circumnavigation of the sprightly bassoon part in the aria for alto and tenor" [The Independent, January 2000 [http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/monteverdi-choir-and-english-baroque-soloists--gardiner-old-royal-naval-college-chapel-greenwich-london-728361.html] ]

: "accompanied by what seemed to be the quiet chuckling of divine laughter itself, in the ticklish tongueing of the bassoon" [The Times, January 2000]

Musical education

In 1979, Philip came to England to study a preliminary course in music at the Centre for Music and Performing Arts within the Colchester Institute. He went on to study bassoon, under Vernon Elliot, and clarinet at Trinity College of Music from 1981 to 1985 where he won the Dame Ruth Railton Prize for Woodwind, the David Toplis Memorial Prize for Woodwind, the Vernon Elliot Prize for Woodwind and the Grace Wylie Prize for Orchestral Playing. Philip was awarded a postgraduate by the Worshipful Company of Musicians as a research scholar into the 17th and 18th century bassoon.

Professorships and teaching

Philip was appointed professor of bassoon (including historical performance) and wind chamber music at the Trinity College of Music in 2001 [Trinity College of Music staff page [http://www.tcm.ac.uk/RVEb635d0a3d7874cacb6c35a187c1d2151,,.aspx] ] . He has also held professorships at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and at the University of Surrey and gives master classes at the Conservatoire de Paris and the Conservatoire de Lyon. Philip is also a guest external examiner at the Royal College of Music.

As a teacher, he has worked at the Dartington International Summer School, as a wind coach for the Hampshire Youth Orchestra, as a clarinet tutor for the Essex Youth Orchestras and as a teacher of bassoon, clarinet and saxophone at the Westminster Abbey Choir School, the Benenden School, the Bexley Music School and for the Inner London Education Authority.

Chamber music

The Ebony Quartet

Philip is a member of the Ebony Quartet, formed in 1980 whilst the members were all studying in Colchester. The members are:

* Graeme Vinall - Clarinet, Eb Clarinet and Tenor Saxophone
* Philip Turbett - Clarinet, Alto Saxophone and Bassoon
* Trevor Barlow - Clarinet, Alto and Baritone Saxophone
* Rodney Smith - Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Soprano, Alto and Tenor Saxophone

They have gained an enviable reputation as a wind ensemble with unmatched versatility. Their programmes encompass music from the 16th century to contemporary works in "serious" and jazz styles. The quartet has travelled extensively throughout the British Isles playing for music societies, festivals, universities and schools. Engagements have included the Purcell Room, St. John's Smith Square and St. David's Hall Cardiff. Amongst the well-known celebrities that the quartet have performed for are HRH the Duchess of Kent, Sir Yehudi Menuhin, David Bellamny and Joan Collins. They have appeared on BBC and ITV Television, Radio 3 and Classic FM. The quartet have worked for the Yehudi Menuhin "Live Music Now" scheme and performed at the International Clarinet Congresses in Paris and Ghent. They were invited by the British Council to give a series of concerts in Spain.

The Ebony Quartet have wide performing experience in educational surroundings. They have given lecture recitals and master classes to young people from ages 5-20. The aim of the concerts is to introduce and demonstrate the instruments of the woodwind family through music from the 16th century to commissioned works by living composers.

The Ebony Quartet's CD "Overtones" was released in 1993 and features music from Franz Danzi to arrangements on Benny Goodman.

Orchestra management

In 2004, Philip was appointed the orchestra manager at English National Opera [English National Opera (staff list) [http://www.eno.org/about/company-music_administration.php] ] where he is responsible for the day-to-day running of all aspects of the orchestral music.

Personal life

Philip is married to recorder player and oboist Linda Turbett and has two sons. In 2006 he was appointed first ever patron to the St. Eugene's Band, Omagh [St. Eugene's Band website [http://www.steugenesband.com/] ] - a brass and reed band which Philip played in before he went to study in England. In his free time, besides music, Philip enjoys playing golf.

External links

* Philip Turbett performs BWV 179 with the English Baroque Soloists [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLQ0EOY-eg0 (YouTube video)]

Notes