Philip Nelson, Double Bass

“I’m thrilled to be joining COE. I look forward to lots of wonderful music-making and exciting concerts with this incredible orchestra.

I first came across COE during my studies at the Royal College of Music in London. It was there that I met Enno Senft (Principal bass of COE) and where I took part in an unconducted orchestral project with visiting members from COE – a truly memorable experience and pivotal for me at the time.
That week I auditioned for the COE Academy.”

Born in Germany into a family of American musicians, Philip began double bass lessons at age 6 with his father. He continued his studies at the Yehudi Menuhin School before attending the Royal College of Music London and later the Robert Schumann Hochschule Düsseldorf.

Philip’s teachers have included Peter Nelson, Michael Wolf, Caroline Emery, Enno Senft and Rick Stotijn.

After graduating from the RCM, Philip took up the position of Section-Leader Double Bass with Royal Northern Sinfonia, a position he held for 3 years. Philip has also worked with several orchestras including the Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia of London, Spira Mirabilis, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and London Sinfonietta.

As a member of Royal Northern Sinfonia he performed Jean Francaix’s Bass Concerto and Missy Mazzoli‘s “Dark With Excessive Bright” concerto at the Glasshouse in Gateshead. He has also appeared as a soloist with the Munich Chamber Orchestra, Neue Philharmonie Westfalen, the Theater & Philharmonie Altenburg-Gera and recorded Cipriani Potter’s Concertante on La Follia with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

Philip has received a number of prizes and awards at International competitions, including the International Society of Basses Solo Competition, the BassEurope Solo Competition and the Sperger Competition.