Philip Dukes

Geoffrey Burgon: Viola Concerto ‘Ghosts of the Dance’ (2008) City of London Sinfonia, Nicholas Ward – leader.

Dukes was lent the Archinto Viola (one of only two remaining playable Stradivarius violas) in 2007 and for a 20th Anniversary recital at the South Bank Centre in March 2011. Dukes' own viola was made by Japanese-American luthier Hiroshi Iizuka. There is a recorded interview hosted by the Guardian, comparing these two instruments.

Dukes solo Viola recordings with leading orchestras include, Bax: Phantasy recorded with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis, released by Chandos Records ALWYN: Pastoral Fantasia recorded with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by David Lloyd-Jones released by Naxos Records and Best of British 20th Century Classics, Live from Royal Albert Hall during BBC Proms 2007 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis released by Deutsche Grammophon DG Concerts.

In 2003 Dukes was appointed Head of Strings at Wells Cathedral School and in 2008 was appointed Artistic Director at Marlborough College. In 2006 Dukes was elected a Fellow of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and in 2007 was made an Honorary Associate of the Royal Academy of Music where he is a Visiting Professor of Viola

Dukes married Caroline in 2002, they live in Marlborough and have two sons.

Dukes' debut as a Viola Soloist at the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall was on 2 August 1995 with the London Mozart Players conducted by Matthias Bamert, the program included Sally Beamish's Viola Concerto No 1 world premiere. Dukes returned on 3 August 1999 with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Martyn Brabbins; he also featured as a soloist at the Proms on 4 August 2005 and 26 July 2007. The latter Prom included a performance of Sir Michael Tippett’s Triple Concerto with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis , a live recording of which is available on CD on the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon Label.

Dukes' 1991 recital debut at London's South Bank was described as ‘world class’ by the Strad Magazine. This performance launched a career that has led to Dukes being recognised as one of the foremost violists of his generation.

Many of Dukes' concerts in the 1990s, were as one third of the Plane Dukes Rahman Trio, which received considerable critical acclaim.

In 1985 Dukes went to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama His principal teachers included Mark Knight, Yfrah Neaman and whilst in New York, Michael Tree. In 2006 Mr Dukes was unanimously elected as a Fellow of the Guildhall School.

Dukes began his musical education at Wells Cathedral School in 1978.

Philip Dukes (born 1968 in Birmingham) is a British classical viola soloist.