Philip Swanson’s primary teachers include:
- Trombone: Sigurd Swanson (Interlochen), Frank Crisafulli (Chicago Symphony), Norman Bolter (Boston Symphony).
- Piano: George Lucktenberg (Interlochen), Roberto Eyzaguirre (U of Miami).
- Organ: Barbara Bruns (Christ Church, Andover MA), Peter Sykes (Cambridge MA), William Porter (Improvisation – NEC).
- Composition, Theory: Robert Cogan (NEC), Samuel Adler (Eastman), Robert Gauldin (Eastman).
At age 21, he won the position of Principal Trombone in the Miami Philharmonic, conducted by Alain Lombard. He spent five years in that position, as well as serving as principal in the Miami Opera and Miami Ballet Orchestras. After five seasons, he left Miami and enrolled in the graduate program at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester N.Y., where in addition to his trombone studies, he also studied classical and jazz piano as well as composition. Upon receiving his Master of Music at Eastman, he moved to Boston Massachusetts where he entered the newly created Doctor of Musical Arts Program at New England Conservatory, becoming the first brass player ever to receive a D.M.A. from N.E.C. (1999). He is presently Professor of Music at Salem State University in Salem MA, where he teaches Music Theory, Composition, Trombone and Piano. He has performed in numerous orchestras and chamber ensembles in the Boston area, including:
- Boston Symphony Orchestra
- Boston Pops
- Boston Lyric Opera
- Boston Ballet
- Boston Modern Orchestra Project
- Opera Boston
- Handel and Haydn Society
- Boston Cecilia
- Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra
- Rhode Island Philharmonic
- Cantabrigia Brass Quintet
- Morgenmusik Chamber Brass
- Thompson Brass Project
- Numerous Theatrical Productions