John Phillips is an instrumental music consultant for MMI. He brings his unique experiences in public education to this position including teaching at Western University in London, Canada where he conducted the Symphonic Band and taught conducting and music education classes to both undergraduate and graduate students. He has also been an instructor for both the University of Toronto and York University in the faculties of music and education.
As a leader in education Mr. Phillips coordinated the Arts curriculum review and implementation for the Ministry of Education in the Province of Ontario. He also served as Principal and Instructor of the in-service music teacher training programs at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. He was on staff at the Ontario Educational Leadership Centre for 13
years as Music Course Manager and Facilitator. He served on music curriculum advisory and development teams for the Ministry of Education and numerous school boards. He has been a board member for both the Ontario Music Educator’s Association and the Ontario Band Association.
Mr. Phillips’ personal mission is to empower young musicians to go beyond simply performing music by providing opportunities for them to learn about the elements, principles and contextual factors that underscore any repertoire. His research and teaching in curriculum theory and development has evolved to include 21st-century learning styles and teaching students to think and act creatively. To do so, he provides workshops on Critical and Creative Thinking as a catalyst for teachers to engage their students in becoming independent and interdependent learners.
John Phillips has guest conducted honour bands across Canada and the United States. He has adjudicated, and provided clinics at music festivals and events around the world including North, South, and Central America, Europe, Asia, and Malaysia. Each summer, he conducts the Wind Ensemble at the National Music Camp of Canada and served as guest conductor at the International Music Camp in 2014. He is in demand as a conference clinician across the globe and regularly presents workshops for the National Association for Music Education (formerly MENC), and Music for All/Bands of America. He is a regular clinician and facilitator at the Music For All Summer Symposium and annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic.
Phillips is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario where he received his undergraduate degrees in both Music and Education. He pursued a Masters Degree in Music Education at Boston University and a PhD in Ethnomusicology at York University. He attained an Artist Diploma in trumpet performance from the Western Conservatory of Music. He has received conducting awards from the Ontario Band Association, Phi Beta Mu, the Southern Ontario Band Festival and an Honorary Life Membership Award of Distinction from the Ontario Music Educators’ Association. He is a founding member of Phi Beta Mu, Lambda Iota Chapter and is an Honorary Life member of the Tri-M Music Honour Society.