Phillip Sear

At school in Mid-Sussex, Phillip studied piano and organ, and gained early experience as a rehearsal pianist for school Gilbert & Sullivan productions. He then read Maths and Music at Royal Holloway, London, graduating with a First in 1976. After that he then took several years out of concentrated music-making to qualify as an accountant in the City of London. Although continuing his City career, in the 1980s Phillip gradually returned to piano playing, first as accompanist to operatic societies for musical theatre and operetta productions, then as rehearsal pianist for Sussex opera groups, including New Sussex Opera, Regency Opera, and Heber Opera. He attended Martino Tirimo's advanced piano class at Morley College for some years and has given public or workshop performances of solo works by many neglected composers. Phillip performs with singers and instrumentalists in concerts in London and the South East. Since autumn 2009 he has been accompanist to Burgess Hill Choral Society, and from 2013 he has also been accompanist for the Mid-Sussex Choir. Phillip also played for several years for two youth choirs at Crawley Music Centre. For ten years Phillip was a house pianist at the AIMS International Music School - a singing summer school held in Eastbourne, Sussex which held its final course in 2017. Other work includes playing for GCSE performance recordings, A Level recitals, diploma and grade examinations, and accompanying at music festivals including Mid-Sussex (Burgess Hill) and Springboard (Brighton). Until the scheme ended in 2014 Phillip also regularly accompanied concerts organized by West Sussex Music (formerly West Sussex Music Service) for pupils with awards for instrumental and singing tuition in their northern area, and he continues to work with them as accompanist to local performance practice platform events. As well as piano, Phillip also plays the church organ, and deputizes at Haywards Heath Methodist Church, Ditchling Unitarians and elsewhere. Finally, for some years Phillip was a regular provider of piano music for wedding ceremonies and other events at the now-closed Newick Park Country House Hotel in Sussex.