Philipp has worked as a conductor, musical director, arranger, pianist, producer and composer with many artists and orchestras all over the world.
He is the founder and director of the United Arab Emirates Philharmonic Orchestra.
Philipp also combines the world of classical music and Rock and Pop since more then 30 years.
Having grown up in a family very close to classical music Philipp performed is first solo piano concerto at the age of 14. In 1983 he received a scholarship of the German Richard-Wagner association. He graduated as a concert pianist and conductor from the Leopold Mozart – Conservatory in Augsburg. Already during his studies he collaborated on various productions of the Augsburg Theater.
1985 he founded the band “Airborn”, signed a recording contract with CBS records in 1986 and released several international singles. In the following years Philipp concentrated on his classical music career again, recorded many piano concertos such as Tchaikowsky, Liszt, Schumann and Grieg. He also produced and recorded a CD with Mozart Piano sonatas and various chamber music works.
In 1999 Philipp took over the artistic direction of the oldest orchestra in South Africa, the Durban City Orchestra. He founded his own recording and production studio in Durban – the Sound Factory – and recorded numerous South African artists. He collaborated with many international artists such as Elaine Paige, Mbongeni Ngema, Duncan Royce, Michael Hankinson, Vicky Sampson and the Quintet-Soloists of the German Opera Berlin.
In 2003 Philipp produced and composed his rock symphony “Open Your Eyes” - received enthusiastically by more then 1500 people during it's world premiere in Durban. This concert featuring US rock – folk icon Shawn Philipps and South African singer and songwriter Cedric Vandenschrik represents Philipp's contribution for a better understanding of the variety of South African music.
In 2004 Philipp was featured in Oprah Winfrey's magazine “Oprah” under “Men of honor”.
Since 2005 Philipp is dedicating his time to build and develop the first resident orchestra in the United Arab Emirates. As artistic director and resident conductor of the UAE Philharmonic Orchestra Philipp participates significantly in building a new cultural center in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Today the UAE Philharmonic consists of more then 70 musicians and performs regularly throughout the country.
In 2007 Philipp and the UAEPO collaborated with the Australian Jazz Quartet in the much acclaimed crossover project “Jazz meets Mozart”. Under his direction the UAE Philharmonic also participated at the 8th Al Ain Classical music festival – together with world-reknown orchestras such as the Staatskapelle Dresden or the orchestra from La Scala, Milan.
Since summer 2008 Philipp is a member of the international jury for the “World Choir Olympics” and a member of the “WCG Olympic Council”.
It is Philipp's extensive musical background, his education and his eclectic and varied musical endeavors which made him first rate a cultural ambassador. Besides his work in the UAE Philipp is also the personal arranger and conductor for Toto lead singer Bobby Kimball.
In January 2010 Philipp was musical director, conductor and arranger for “Rock meets Classic 2010”, featuring the three legendary lead singers from the bands Nazareth, Toto and Foreigner: Dan McCafferty, Bobby Kimball and Lou Gramm. “Rock meets Classic” was on tour for three weeks throughout all major concert venues in Germany and was highly acclaimed and successful. There was also a DVD produced from the performance in Frankfurt – Jahrhunderthalle.
Internationally Philipp is widely considered to be a leading specialist for orchestral cross-over projects, especially in Symphonic Rock. Philipp's orchestral arrangements of some of the most famous rock songs ever and his work as a conductor, combining bands and orchestras, is very highly regarded by many musicians all over the world.
In summer 2010 Philipp will be touring again with members of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and other world-famous soloist for “Bridges to Classics” which includes Symphonic Rock, Classical and Opera repertoire.
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