Our next concert takes place on Sunday 15 January 2023 at 3pm.
From J S Bach to the Film Music of John Barry
Philip Hopkins
Chromatic Harmonica
Lindsay Bridgwater piano
Philip Hopkins (Chromatic Harmonica) with piano accompanist, plays a variety of pieces by composers ranging from J. S. Bach to John Barry.
Phil Hopkins was a music scholar at King’s School Canterbury, then completed a BA Hons at Oxford University while regularly travelling to London to study jazz drums with Guildhall School of Music professor Trevor Tomkins. While at university Phil played drums with many of the UK’s top jazz soloists such as Peter King, Hank Shaw and Stan Robinson. Phil then went on to learn chromatic harmonica with the world’s finest classical harmonicist Tommy Reilly.
On graduation at the age of 21, Phil immediately started work in London’s West End, playing percussion for Snoopy the Musical at the Duchess Theatre and recording the cast album at Abbey Road Studios. More theatre work followed, and soon Phil was getting invited to play for major West End shows such as Guys and Dolls with Lulu and Aspects of Love with Michael Ball and Sarah Brightman.
Phil has also had an active career as a jazz musician and has performed with many of the UK and USA’s most well-known jazz artists including Leon Redbone, Duncan Lamont, Claire Martin, Guy Barker, Stacey Kent and Julian Joseph. In 2020 he was percussionist for the album 52nd St and Other Tales featuring Tina May, Mark Nightingale and the James Pearson Trio, produced by Duncan Lamont. Phil’s tribute to Toots Thielemans, The Toots Project, has played at jazz venues throughout the UK including 2021 London Jazz Festival- for more information on this please visit tootsproject.com.
2021 saw Phil playing percussion on the Broadway transfer of Anything Goes at the Barbican Theatre (as dep for Dom Sales).
Phil is regularly asked to coach actors who need to play harmonica for shows and has worked as harmonica consultant for many West End plays including Girl from the North Country (Old Vic and Gielgud), One Man Two Guvnors (National Theatre, Broadway and Theatre Royal Haymarket), The Night of the Iguana (Lyric Theatre), Peter Pan (Barbican and Stratford) and Assassins (Menier Chocolate Factory).
For further information, please see: –
https://www.philhopkins.org.uk/
Standard admission (visitors): £12
Students and under 21s: £7
Accompanied children under 16: Free
Tickets may be purchased at the door on the day of the concert,
or via WeGotTickets, or Eventbrite. –
Egham and District Music Club 