Philip Nelson
The Anonymous Chair
Born in Germany into a family of American musicians, Philip began double bass lessons at age 6 with his father. He studied privately with Professor Michael Wolf in Berlin before joining Caroline Emery at the Yehudi Menuhin School in 2010. In 2015 Philip received a full scholarship from the ABRSM to attend the Royal College of Music, where he continued his studies with both Caroline Emery and Enno Senft. After graduating, he freelanced across the UK and Europe until assuming the position as Section Leader Double Bass with Royal Northern Sinfonia in 2020.
Philip has worked with several leading orchestras including the Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, London Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia of London, Spira Mirabilis, Philharmonie Gera, as well as taking part in the Mahler Chamber Orchestra & London Sinfonietta Academies.
Over the past ten years, Philip has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in various concert halls including Wigmore Hall, Menuhin Hall, King’s Place London and Chapel Royal Brighton. He performed Jean Francaix’s Bass Concerto with RNS at Sage Gateshead , Eduard Tubin’s Double Bass Concerto with the Philharmonie Gera and Bottesini’s Second Double Bass Concerto with the Royal College of Music String Band & University Orchestra Chemnitz.
Between 2012 and 2018, Philip received a number of prizes and awards at both National and International competitions, including the International Society of Basses Solo Competition, the BassEurope Solo Competition, the Sperger Competition and the RCM Double Bass Competition.
As well as joining RNS, Philip is pursuing an Artist Diploma (Konzertexamen) at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf under the tutelage of Rick Stotijn.
Philip plays on a bass made by Lorenzo and Tomasso Carcassi of Florence 1770.