Philip Hesketh

Philip Hesketh became Musical Director of the West London
Sinfonia in 1991, since when the orchestra has achieved and
maintained a status as one of London's leading amateur
groups.

In 2001 Philip made his highly acclaimed debut at the Royal
Opera House, Covent Garden, replacing the great Russian
conductor Evgenii Svetlanov in the Royal Ballet’s season of
the Nutcracker. This was a milestone in a wide-ranging
musical career that is bringing this English conductor’s
name to the attention of audiences both in the UK and abroad.

Philip has a talent for accompanying dance that is
considered rare amongst conductors, and he has worked very
successfully with choreographers and dancers including Sir
Anthony Dowell, Sir Peter Wright, Wayne Sleep Harold King
and Cathy Marston. Recently, as well as further work with
the Royal Ballet, he collaborated with Irek Mukhammedov on
a new ballet of The Prince and the Pauper for the London
Children’s Ballet, of which he is Musical Director.

In addition to the West London Sinfonia, Philip is also
Musical Director of the Richmond Orchestra, St Peter’s
Camerata and London Children’s Ballet, and he makes
frequent guest appearances with orchestras in Britain and
Europe. Over several years he has developed a close working
relationship with the Salon Orchestra of the Wiener Volksoper,
the home of Viennese Operetta. Performing with them in
Vienna’s Kursalon he has introduced and conducted many
summer concerts of music by the most popular Viennese
composers. In Britain he is becoming much in demand as a
witty, entertaining and informative speaker on all aspects
of classical music.

Philip's Website