Exclusive Interview with Philip Cobb

Dr. Rodney Newton chats to prodigious talent and brass musician of the moment, Philip Cobb - Principal Trumpet of the London Symphony Orchestra - about his life, career and his continuing relationship with brass bands

To occupy the principal trumpet chair of one of the world's leading symphony orchestras is something many would like to achieve, but few actually have. However, Philip Cobb reached that dizzy height in 2009 at the age of 21 when he became Principal Trumpet of the world-famous London Symphony Orchestra (LSO).

Philip's life has been rooted in brass bands from his earliest years, an important aspect in his extraordinary development. The famous Cobb dynasty began in the 1920s with his great-grandfather,
Fred H. Cobb, Bandmaster of Hendon Salvation Army Citadel.
Fred's son, Roland, was Principal Cornet of the Band of the Welsh Guards and The International Staff Band (The ISB), as well as Bandmaster at Hendon. Roland's son, Stephen Cobb, became Principal Cornet at Hendon and The ISB, and subsequently
became Bandmaster of both bands - positions he still holds today. Small wonder, then, that Philip has followed in their footsteps
and joined 'the Cobb family business' - music!

Philip Cobb came into the world in 1987 and his father recalled: “Philip showed a real interest in playing the cornet from a very early age. He would often sit with me, with his own toy trumpet and book when I practised. At our weekly Sunday service, he'd sometimes sit with the same toy trumpet and book, other times with his own baton. All the family was involved in music, so Philip's passion was not seen as unusual in any way. However when he was four, he received a cornet as a Christmas present from my father and, despite all the other kids' toys and gifts that he received from then on he just wanted to play that cornet!

“He quickly developed his own system,
and managed to play Christmas carols and other tunes by ear before he learned to read music. He played every day and was constantly listening to all genres of music, but he loved the sound of a band. By the time he was seven, I realised what a good ear he had and that his talent might be special.” Steven explained:
“I was listening to a recording of
Peter Graham's cornet solo, Whirlwind, played by Richard Martin. He took the CD to his bedroom, put his player on repeat and would go to sleep while it was still playing. In the space of a few days, he learned to play it just from the CD - no music, no help from me -
and all at the age of seven. That's when
I sensed he really might have something. Practice was never an issue - he loved practising, always playing lots of tunes and did what he did intuitively. As his first teacher, I tried not to get
in the way of this process, guiding rather than instructing. I think it worked!”

In due course, Philip joined Hendon Young People's Band and later the senior band along with his brother, Matthew. At the age of 13, he took part in his first National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain course, becoming Principal Cornet on subsequent courses and winning the Harry Mortimer Award four times. At the age of 18, he enrolled at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he studied with
Paul Beniston, Principal Trumpet of the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO), also receiving tuition from trumpet soloist, Alison Balsom.

In 2006, he took part in the Maurice André International Trumpet Competition and was awarded a prize for Most Promising Performer. During this period, he was also a member of The ISB and released his first solo CD entitled Life Abundant, accompanied by Cory Band conducted by his father.

The following year, 2007, Philip won the Candide Award presented by the LSO Academy and also played Principal Trumpet in the European Youth Orchestra, as well as working with several orchestras during his studies at Guildhall. Said Philip: “I never ever wanted to do anything else but music, but it was only during my time at college that I realised I’d like a job playing in an orchestra and, as I approached the end of my studies at Guildhall, I was all set to join my teacher as his fourth trumpet in the LPO.”

It was during this same period that Philip first worked with one of his musical heroes - the legendary Maurice Murphy. Philip explained, “I’d already met Maurice when, in my first year at music college, he was introduced to me by the LSO tuba player, Patrick Harrild, as God! Later, on the first date of my trial with the LPO, I found myself playing off-stage trumpet with him in the opening concert of the new season. He had officially retired from the LSO by then and people in the Orchestra were laughing because of the great difference in our ages. He was lovely - sitting with me and reading the newspaper while we waited for our first entry, which we both missed! We chatted, found
that we lived near each other and, afterwards, Maurice gave me a lift home in his…

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