Philip Sunderland

Philip Sunderland was born in Norwich and attended the Cathedral School. In 1987 he was awarded a scholorship to the Royal Academy of Music studying organ with David Sangar, pianoforte with Ruth Harte and Iain Ledingham and conducting with Colin Metters.

Whilst a student at the academy, Philip performed the Poulenc Organ Concerto with the Academy String Orchestra, gave five recitals at St Paul's Cathedral and conducted many concerts including the Durufle Requiem with the Academy Chorus and Orchestra. After graduation, he received a scholarship from the Friends of Covent Garden to study at the National Opera Studio.

In 1993 he left the Studio to begin work as a freelance repetiteur, working for the music staffs at Opera North, English National Opera, the Royal Opera and Glyndebourne Touring Opera.
In 1994 Philip was appointed Music Director to Goldsmiths Chorus and the University of London Opera Group. He was subsequently awarded The Laurels of London University for outstanding contribution to the work of that institution.

He worked as Chorus master with the London Symphony Chorus for their cycle of Shostakovich Symphonies with Rostropovich. He also worked extensively as assistant conductor to David Parry at the 1994 and 1995 Almeida Opera Festivals.

As a conductor, Philip has been Music Director of various London choirs and has conducted
The Marriage of Figaro, La Cenerentola and The Daughter of the Regiment for English Touring Opera, as well as Donizetti's La Romanzesca for Central Festival Opera.

For Opera North, he recently conducted a performance of the Brahms Requiem in York Minster and an Opera Gala Concert at York University. Both these concerts featured the Chorus and Orchestra of Opera North and in Opera North’s London Season at Sadlers Wells, Philip Conducted Performances of Sweeney Todd.