Encouraged to take up composition by Herbert Howells, Philip Wilby studied at Keble College Oxford, and was made Professor of Composition at Leeds University in 2002. Until recently, he lived in Bristol where his wife Wendy had been serving as Canon Precentor at the cathedral. In 2008, he was granted a Dutch Government BUMA award for his innovative works for brass band, and in 2009 an honorary fellowship by the Royal School of Church Music. He is proud to have served as the musical associate at the Black Dyke Band for 30 years, with whom he made his recent CD ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’, which was awarded The British Bandsman’s Award for CD of the Year 2019.