2019 Concert Series Bach & Bruckner | Page 16

PHILIP SMITH organ Philip Smith was born in Stoke-on-Trent in the English midlands where he was a chorister in the choir of Stoke Minster, where he studied organ with Michael Rhodes and later Roger Fisher (Chester Cathedral) and Ian Tracey (Liverpool Cathedral). Following four years as a student at The Royal Northern College of Music he was appointed Assistant Organist of St Asaph Cathedral where he was involved with the North Wales music festival whose director was the Welsh composer William Mathias. From 1994-2007 Philip was Organist of The Collegiate Church of St Peter in Ruthin North Wales. Moving to Auckland in January 2008 as Organist of Holy Trinity Cathedral, he combines this position with organist and organ tutor at Baradene College of the Sacred Heart, Diocesan School for Girls and Dilworth School. In addition, he is organ teaching Fellow at the University of Waikato where he has just completed his doctoral research. During his time at Holy Trinity he has been responsible for tonal design of the new Cathedral organ and for the organ in St. Mary’s. 16