Philip Smith

Who is Philip Smith?

Philip Smith is an eminent American classical trumpet player. He is Principal Trumpet with the New York Philharmonic. A position he has held since 1988. Smith, born in the UK, is from a Salvation Army background. He maintains a high reputation amongst trumpeters worldwide as one of the best. He assumed the co-principal position in the New York Philharmonic in June 1978 and the principal position in 1988. He also is a supporter of brass bands, performing with various groups of distinction.

In 2013, Smith was announced as the new William F. and Pamela P. Prokasy Professor of trumpet at the University of Georgia, where he will teach alongside Brandon Craswell. Before Smith, this position had been occupied by Fred Mills, former trumpeter with the Canadian Brass and David Bilger, Principal Trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra.