Philip Dukes
FGSM, HonARAM
Recognised as one of the world’s leading viola players, Philip Dukes has enjoyed a career spanning over 30 years as an accomplished concerto soloist, recitalist and chamber musician.
He made his solo recital début in 1991 at the Southbank Centre, London, hailed by The Times as ‘Great Britain’s most outstanding viola player’ and by The Strad as ‘world class’. As a winner of the coveted European Rising Stars Award in 1997, he immediately made his recital débuts in Vienna, Stockholm, Frankfurt, Paris, and Amsterdam to critical acclaim and went on to perform as a soloist with all the major UK orchestras.
He has appeared as a soloist at the BBC Proms on numerous occasions, including one in which his performance with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Sir Andrew Davis in the Triple Concerto by Sir Michael Tippett was recorded live for the Deutsche Grammophon label. In addition, Philip has also recorded extensively for the Chandos, Naxos, Nimbus, BIS and Hyperion recording labels, as well as regularly recording and broadcasting for BBC Radio 3. He also gave the world première of the Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra by Benjamin Britten.
Philip has enjoyed close musical associations with Yehudi Menuhin, György Kurtág, Daniel Hope, Tasmin Little, Julian Lloyd Weber, Michael Tree, Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, the Beaux Arts Trio, Debbie Wiseman and Sir Andrew Davis.
In more diverse collaborations, Philip has worked with artists such as Eric Clapton, Sir Paul McCartney, Massive Attack, Madonna, Björk, Bryan Ferry, Nigel Kennedy, Robbie Williams, Oasis, and David Gilmour.
In demand worldwide as a director/conductor/soloist, he holds guest teaching positions at the Royal Academy of Music in London, Wells Cathedral School, and is also Artistic Director at Marlborough College.
Philip was unanimously elected a Fellow of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2006, and in 2007 was appointed an Honorary Associate at the Royal Academy of Music. Philip Dukes is also Associate Artistic Director of the Savannah Music Festival in Georgia, USA, and is also a member of the prestigious Wigmore Soloists ensemble.
Highlights for 2024/25 include performances throughout the UK, USA, Germany, Turkey and Ireland, in concert with the Sacconi, Tippet and Escher String Quartets, Daniel Hope, Jennifer Pike, Zurich Chamber Orchestra, Wigmore Soloists, Matt Ford and Debbie Wiseman. Following his acclaimed release of the Brahms Viola Sonatas with Peter Donohoe for the Chandos label in 2022, Philip will feature as a soloist on a further CD for the Quartz label with the National Symphony Orchestra. This is due for release in 2024 and includes music for viola and orchestra by Elgar and Herbert Howells.
www.philipdukes.com
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