Peter Phillips (conductor)

Peter Phillips (born 1953) is a British choral conductor, music scholar, and publisher specializing in Renaissance polyphony. He is best known as the founder and director of The Tallis Scholars, a vocal ensemble internationally renowned for its performances and recordings of sacred music from the 15th and 16th centuries.

Phillips studied music at St John's College, Oxford, where he was a choral scholar. He founded The Tallis Scholars in 1973 while still an undergraduate. The group's initial focus was on the works of composers such as Josquin Des Prez, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, and William Byrd, but their repertoire has expanded over the years to include a wider range of Renaissance and contemporary works.

Phillips is recognized for his rigorous scholarship and his meticulous approach to performance practice. He emphasizes clarity of texture, precise intonation, and a refined understanding of the stylistic conventions of Renaissance polyphony. His interpretations are often informed by his own research into original sources and his commitment to historically informed performance.

Beyond his work with The Tallis Scholars, Phillips is also active as a guest conductor and lecturer. He has conducted choirs and orchestras around the world, and he frequently presents masterclasses and workshops on Renaissance music. He is also the founder and editor of The Musical Times, a long-established British music journal, and he has published extensively on various aspects of Renaissance music, including detailed analyses of individual composers and specific works.