Phillip Tolley
is Choral Guardian and Chief Executive of Col Canto Associates, an
umbrella organisation which hosts and maintains a number of choral
singing related websites.
The aim of the organisation is to encourage choral music both in the UK
and internationally and to promote choral singing as a open-to-all music
activity which promotes self belief, body and mental health and
inter-personal skills including numeracy and literacy, as well as the
opportunity to sing beautiful and spiritual vocal music.
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Phillip began his professional vocal career at the Athenaeum Theatre, Plymouth, as Alfred in Strauss’ ‘Die Fledermaus. Since then he has appeared across the country, from the Scilly Isles to Buxton, in Operatic roles and on the Concert stage. Internationally he has performed in Cyprus and Germany.
He studied privately with Antony Benskin for 12 years and while in Cyprus, from 1994-1997, with former Royal Opera Covent Garden member Linda Humphries. He has also undertaken Masterclasses with Kenneth Bowen, Morag Noble, John Huw Davies, Alexander Young, Ian Caddy, Mollie Petrie and Noelle BarkerIn 1988 he appeared in the British Premiere of Donizetti’s ‘Torquato Tasso’, under Carlo Rizzi and also covered the role of Clotarco in the British Premiere of Haydn’s ‘Armide’ at the Buxton International Festival. In 1989 he created the role of Hlestakov in the World Premier of Peter Dawes’ ‘The Government Inspector’.
In 2002 he was took over the ownership of 'British Choirs on the Net' which has grown to become the UK's largest online directory of choirs and choral societies. As other websites were added this became the start of Col Canto AssociatesThough British Choirs on the Net he is a member of TONSIL Group and also an Associate Member of the Association of British Choral Directors (ABCD).
As well as the 1988 Torquato Tasso Buxton Opera performance which was broadcast on Radio 3, he has appeared on Television in walk-on roles, including Casualty and Cranford and also in a number of feature films including Kenneth Branagh's film of Mozart's Magic Flute. . He has been a member of British Actors Equity since 1989.
He is available as a freelance choral administrator as well as a tenor soloist. He is a member of the Abertillery Orpheus Male Voice.
Email: philliptolley@colcanto.co.uk
Tel: 07899 860351