Classique

Emma McPhilemy

Emma McPhilemy
McPhilemy drew the attention and respect of both orchestra and audience. With seemingly effortless control she manipulated her tone from crystalline transparency to molten gold, coupled with sheer presence and huge musical integrity”.
Andy Scott, composer and saxophonist. Review of Harrold Saxophone Concerto with BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in ‘Clarinet and Saxophone Society’ magazine.

Emma McPhilemy is a Selmer Paris Artist, international soloist and performer with a highly unique and versatile style to her playing.

She graduated from The Royal Northern College of Music with a First Class Honours degree, recently completed ‘The International Artist Diploma’ under the tuition of Rob Buckland, and has since performed throughout the UK, Europe, China and Australia as a soloist and chamber musician.

Recent career highlights include making her debut concerto performance with The BBC Philharmonic, performing a commission written especially for her by composer Tom Harrold, touring the UK, Europe and China as Musical Director and saxophone soloist in Bill Whelan’s production of Riverdance, recording soprano saxophone for the new 25th Riverdance album, travelling to Australia as guest artist at The Melbourne Saxophone Festival and Perth Saxophone Boot Camp.

Emma has managed several collaborative projects, international tours and performances with other conservatoire students around the UK and to China, Switzerland, Portugal, Croatia and Strasbourg. She also has worked regularly with Opera North and The Manchester Camerata.

2019/20 holds recital appearances at RNCM’s Sax Day, St Martin-in-the-Fields, St James’s Piccadilly and Trinity Laban, where she will be giving a talk and masterclass. She will also be performing in Riverdance’s 25th Anniversary Arena show at the Dublin 3Arena, and will be touring with the company throughout the UK for months following. Emma plans to make an appearance at the 2020 European Saxophone Congress in Trento.

The Countess of Munster Musical Trust and The Concordia Foundation support her performance career.

Photo credit: Tom Gradwell