Directors

Mr. Phillips received his B.M. and M.M. degrees from Michigan State University, where he was principal trumpet in the band and orchestra. He has completed all of the required course work and recital for his Ed.D. degree at Arizona State University.
Mr. Phillips has just completed 50 years of teaching music in the public and private schools in Michigan and Arizona (12 in Michigan, 38 in Arizona.) He recently retired from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix after serving 25 years as Director of Instrumental Ensembles and 5 years as Music Department Chairman.

While at Grand Canyon University Mr. Phillips received the Distinguished Professor Award and The Faculty Award of Excellence. In 1993, he received the O.M. Hartsell Excellence in Teaching Music Award from the Arizona Music Educators Association. In 1999, Mr. Phillips received the William Richardson Retired Music Educator Service Award. He recently received a Professor Emeritus award from Grand Canyon University.
Mr. Phillips is currently the musical director of the Desert Foothills New Horizon Band in Carefree/Cave Creek, Arizona. He is also an active teacher of Elderhostel Classes through their Lifetime Learners' Program in Phoenix.

He maintains a full private teaching schedule and is an active performer in the Phoenix area playing trumpet with his own brass quartet "Fanfare Brass." He is an active member of the International Trumpet Guild and Music Educators National Conference and is in demand as a clinician and guest conductor throughout Arizona and other parts of the country.

He visited Sydney, Australia where he was guest conductor for the New Horizons Band at the Pan Pacific Music Camp. In June 2001 he traveled with the Michigan State University Alumni Band to Vienna, Budapest, Berlin, Dresden and Leipzig.
Mr. Phillips plays a Smith-Watkins trumpet and has been appointed their North American representative.