Phillip first picked up the cornet in the South Cheshire town of Sandbach, base of the well known Fodens Brass Band. Joining them in 1981 at age 14, Phillip spent four years there before winning a place at the Guildhall School of Music, where he studied trumpet under Paul Cosh and Rod Franks. After graduating from the Guildhall, Phillip worked for Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers and later The Guinness Book of World Records in their Marketing Departments. At this time he played with a number of bands in the London area, including both Regent Brass and Redbridge on Principal Cornet. Phillip moved his banding ties back to the North by signing for the BNFL (Leyland) Band between September 1993 and the Summer of 1996.

It was at this time that Phillip began his conducting career, firstly with Brent Brass, whom he led to victory in the fourth section National Finals in 1997, followed by the Luton Band, and then Regent Brass. After some time away from the stick, in April 2006 he accepted the Musical Director's position with Ware Brass, a position he has continued to hold until the present time. In his business life, he is currently the Sales & Marketing Director for Faber Music, the well known sheet music publisher.