Phil Lawrence was born in Liverpool, and began study of the trumpet at 10 with his Father ex-Salvation Army whose parents were both sergeants. Through the early years Phil studied with Bill Flood, had Jack Stokes (eminent local professional) as a music teacher, and gleaned pearls of wisdom from visiting peripatetic Bob Dean (Lairds & Fodens). Phil became principal trumpet of the MYO under Tim Reynish at 17, and soon Phil began to conduct the MYO as Tim’s Peugeot 305 was rather unreliable. This later lead to Sir Charles Groves (principal conductor RLPO) coming to see Phil work on Mahler’s 4th symphony with the MYO.
Having already gained two ARCM’s under Alan Stringer MBE (Principal trumpet RLPO) at Mabel Fletcher College in teaching and performance, Phil had his first professional gig with the Liverpool Philharmonic sat next to his teacher at the age of 18, Phil then gained a place as a postgraduate at the RNCM in trumpet, conducting and composition before joining the Manchester CWS band. Within the time at the RNCM he worked with the BBC Philharmonic, The Halle, Opera North, Liverpool Phil, Scottish Chamber and Manchester Camerata, Ulster orchestra, Boston Ballet and the Royal Opera. Also, at that time he composed fanfares for the Duchess of Kent at the RNCM, and ditties for BBC Northwest Nationwide.
On moving to London, Phil worked further with the Royal Opera (2 years), Philharmonia (2 years), Wren Orchestra, BBCSO, Philamusica, also L’Orchestre de Paris & Avigion, Saddlers Wells, and recorded various film 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 got rave reviews in the Daily Telegraph.
Now, a full time composer giving up professional playing in 1990 now runs his own studio with over 240 TV, radio and film credits inc. ad’s such as Nike & The Times, Wrigley’s, Ibuleve, Classic FM, Cornflakes & RBS.