Who am I?

Philip Lancaster is a composer, poet, singer and academic. Having been diverted down the channels of academic study and scholarship, since 2011 Philip has been rekindling his own original creativity, and is quickly establishing himself as a composer of serious and original voice. A major chamber oratorio, War Passion, was premiered at the Three Choirs Festival in July 2016, and recent songs have been performed at the Ludlow Weekend of English Song, the St. Marylebone Festival, and Song in the City. A short collection of Philip’s original poems was published by subscription in 2014, and two further works are in preparation: a major single poem, Sonata, and a full collection, Rain.

Continuing his work as British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow in English at the University of Exeter, Philip is currently completing an edition of Ivor Gurney’s complete poetry, with Tim Kendall, and is writing the first major critical study of Gurney’s music and poetry. As well as being the leading authority on Gurney’s work, Philip writes and lectures more widely on British music and poetry, and teaches poetry at the University of Exeter. As a baritone he performs in consort and as a soloist in oratorio and recital, and has given recitals at venues and festivals around the country. Philip is now combining his academic work with his singing in a breed of lecture-recitals exploring Gurney and wider subjects, with recent presentations in London and at Leeds University as part of the Ilkley Literature Festival.