Philippe Schartz

Born in Luxembourg, Philippe Schartz developed an early interest in the trumpet from listening to his father play in the village wind band.

His passion was cultivated by his teachers who have included Dino Tomba, a great friend and mentor. He continued his studies at the Royal College of Music in London with the late David Mason, and then was invited to join the Special Student programme at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. A winner of many prizes and awards, he has developed a highly successful career as an orchestral and a chamber musician as well as a soloist, performing all over Europe, the USA, and Japan.

As a member and Principal Trumpet of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra, founding Principal Trumpet of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra until the summer of 2002, and, currently since 1998, Section Principal Trumpet of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, he has performed to much critical acclaim under conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Pierre Boulez, and Bernard Haitink. In 2009 he was appointed Principal Trumpet of the Solistes Européens, Luxembourg.

He has been broadcast on the BBC and numerous European radio and television networks, in addition to issuing 9 solo CDs. An enthusiastic member of the teaching staff at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and Cardiff University Philippe Schartz has given master-classes and educational workshops in all five continents with particular links with the  Royal College of Music, Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and the School of Music and Sonic Arts at Queen’s University, Belfast. He made his BBC Proms debut as a soloist in 2011 and has recently become a Yamaha Trumpet artist.