He commenced piano studies at an early age and wrote his first piano composition, Daybreak, at age 14. Under the influence and editorship of the late Dr. Franz Holford (himself a student of Cortot and Felix Weingartner's nephew) Daybreak was published by the Sydney-based publishing house of J.Albert & Sons Pty Ltd, thus making Phillip Wilcher the youngest published composer at that time. As a result, Phillip Wilcher was accepted to undertake further studies in the art of piano playing with Franz Holford, as his teacher. Holford's own mentor and uncle was the conductor Felix Weingartner who succeeded Mahler as conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic. A student of Liszt, Weingartner also held close associations with Wagner and Berlioz. Holford's family was distinguished with connections back to the courts of the Prussian Kaisers. One of the many highlights from Wilcher's years of study with Holford was a chance performance of Chopin's Mazurka in Bb minor for Fernando Germani, the renowned organist who was visiting Holford from Vatican City. Germani was visibly moved by the young boy's playing. In recent years , Phillip Wilcher's music has featured on several recordings, notably the ABC CD release FELIX AND ME and LIFT OFF - a Tall Poppies release of piano music for children played by Elpis Liossatos. A collaboration with acclaimed pianist Jeanell Carrigan produced four further CD releases of piano music by Phillip Wilcher: ARABESQUE, OUT OF THE BLOWING SANDS, ETCHINGS and SHIMMER.
In 2004 Phillip Wilcher wrote a full length piano recital for the pianist Simon Tedeschi - the first of its kind - which has been published by The Keys Press. In 2004,the Paris-based Australian cellist Eleanor Lewis premiered Phillip Wilcher's "....and with the rain, tears" at the Fellowship of Australian Composer's Cellomania concert with Katarina Kroslokova at the piano, and in 2006, Simon Tedeschi will give the world premiere of Phillip Wilcher's ETUDES TEDESCHI at the Ginastera Festival in London. Further works by Phillip Wilcher have been scheduled for recording by pianist Paul Carasco.
Further information together with a listing of his works can be attained from www.phillipwilcher.com and the Australian Music Centre's website.
