Philippa Davies

Philippa Davies has established an international reputation as one of the finest flautists currently performing. A “first-rate virtuoso,” with “exceptional eloquence," she has been noted for an “almost electrical response to technique.” She studied at the Royal College of Music with Douglas Whittaker and later William Bennett, and made her debut in the 1977 BBC Proms followed in 1988 by Mozart’s D major concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.


As a chamber musician Philippa became a member of the Albion Ensemble, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies’s ensemble The Fires of London, and now is busy with London Winds and the Nash Ensemble, with whom she has pioneered first performances, made several recordings, and appeared throughout the world. As a recitalist, she has performed internationally, giving masterclasses and broadcasts. Her duo partners are Jan Willem Nelleke (piano) and Maggie Cole (harpsichord), and she has regularly appeared with Marisa Robles, Julian Bream, Pascal Roge, Barry Douglas, YoYo Ma, and Stephen Kovacevich.

Philippa’s numerous recordings include Mozart’s entire original concertos and quartets and Bach’s Flute Sonatas; she has also recorded a 20th century wind quintet disc with London Winds for Chandos. As a freelance player, she regularly plays guest principal flute with many of the main London orchestras: the Royal Philharmonic, the Philharmonia, and the English Chamber Orchestra.

Philippa teaches the flute at the Guildhall School of Music and more recently has taken part in the “Reflective Conservatoire” conference at the Barbican, London as well as “Innovative Conservatoire” Seminars in Finland.
After attending Summerflute 2007, she has become a Licensed Body Mapping Educator giving individual Body Mapping lessons and master classes.

Each summer she runs her own highly regarded International Flute Course at Benslow, North London as well as a course in Cubertou, France and in Aberystwyth, Wales.