Philip Tschopp, Music Director

Conductor Philip Tschopp is known as a champion of new music, collaborator with Northwest composers, and conductor of regional instrumental and choral ensembles. As Music Director for the City Opera Ballet, Mr. Tschopp conducted City Opera’s acclaimed Marriage of Figaro (2015) and Cosi Fan Tutte (2016), bringing professional opera back to Bellevue. With Ballet Bellevue and Orchestra Bellevue, he has led productions of Fairy Queen - Purcell (2003), Sleeping Beauty – Tchaikovsky (2006), Nutcracker – Tchaikovsky (2006, 2014), Coppelia – Delibes (2007), Giselle - Adam (2014), Firebird - Stravinsky (2014), OPERA + BALLET (2015, 2016), and Messiah – The Ballet (2015).

At the University of Washington, where he pursued his Doctorate of Musical Arts (Orchestral Conducting), Mr. Tschopp was awarded the prestigious Morrison Fellowship, served as teaching assistant to Maestro Peter Erös and the UW Symphony, acting conductor of the UW Opera, and was, for three years, the conductor of the UW Summer Orchestra.  Regionally, Philip served as conductor/music director for Bellevue’s Cascadian Chorale (1994 – 2007) where he premiered over 30 new works commissioned from composers such as Bern Herbolsheimer, Troy Peters, David White, and William Hawley. Under Mr. Tschopp’s direction the Cascadian Chorale and Chamber Orchestra presented numerous choral/orchestral masterworks including Requiem settings by Brahms, Mozart, Fauré, and Duruflé, as well as more diverse fare such as Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610, Poulenc’s Gloria, Arvo Pärt’s Te Deum, and Berlioz’s Te Deum. In the operatic realm, Philip has conducted Bern Herbolsheimer’s award-winning one act opera, Aria Da Capo, at the Chelan Bach Festival, was music director/conductor for the UW’s acclaimed 2007 Dido and Aeneas (Purcell) and served for two years as resident conductor/music director of the Garrett Fisher Ensemble, an avant-garde opera company in Seattle (Dream of Zeus, 2004; Stargazers, 2006). As resident conductor of the Affinity Ensemble, a musician’s collective associated with the Washington Composers Forum, he was one of two regional conductors to conduct in Seattle Symphony's 2006 Made in America Festival in Benaroya Hall.

In November 2015, Mr. Tschopp was conductor and baritone soloist for The Withing Project, Hope Wechkin’s acclaimed Theatrical Oratorio based on the science of human connection. In addition to his conducting activities, Mr. Tschopp serves on the board of directors for the Washington Composers Forum, on the board of directors for Seattle’s prize-winning Choral Arts Northwest, and serves as Administrator for the Bern Herbolsheimer Music Catalogue.  Among other highlights, Mr. Tschopp’s 2017 season will include a reprise of City Opera’s 2015 Firebird(choreographed by Jennifer Porter) and appearances with his new professional vocal ensemble Singularity at the first annual Herbolsheimer Music Festival 2017.

Philip is grateful to the players of Puget Brass for their warm welcome and enthusiastic support as he discovers the amazing repertoire and culture of brass band ensembles.