Phillip Wilcher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Phillip Wilcher
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Wilcher in 2012
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Phillip Leslie Wilcher |
| Born | 16 March 1958 Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia |
| Genres | Classical, children's |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Labels | Wirripang |
Phillip Leslie Wilcher (born 16 March 1958) is an Australian pianist and composer of classical music. He was also a founding member of the popular children's music group, the Wiggles. When Wilcher published his first musical piece, "Daybreak", at age 14, he became one of Australia's youngest classical composers.
Wilcher has created over 100 piano pieces. He has performed as a solo artist and with music groups. His music has been described as "free-flowing" and "romantic" with beautiful melodies. Radio stations like ABC-FM and 2MBS-FM have played his music. 2MBS-FM even aired two documentaries about him: Wilcher and the French Connection and Wilcher's World.
Contents
About Phillip Wilcher
Phillip Leslie Wilcher was born to Naomi Joy Thompson and Leslie James Wilcher. His father was a veteran of World War II. Phillip grew up in Camperdown, Australia. As of 2004, he lived in Concord. He once said that his whole life has been about writing music. He would be happy living simply with just a piano and music paper.
Phillip's Musical Journey
Starting with Music
Wilcher began piano lessons when he was eight years old. He started composing music even before he was a teenager. At 14, he published his first piano piece, "Daybreak". This was with a Sydney music company called J. Albert & Son. This made him the youngest published composer in Australia at that time. John Martin later recorded "Daybreak" on his CD, Ancient Rivers, in 2006.
Around that time, Richard Gill gave Wilcher a prize at the City of Sydney Eisteddfod. This was for a piece called 'Autumn Mists'. Wilcher had entered four other pieces, including an Etude that Gill praised. Gill said it was a "noble effort" and "rivaled Chopin's Etude Opus 10 No. 4". Gill encouraged Wilcher to keep composing.
For seven years, Wilcher studied with composer Franz Holford. Holford was an editor at J. Albert & Son. They later composed music together for over twenty years. During his student years, Wilcher met Fernando Germani, a famous organist from Rome. Wilcher played for Germani, who was very moved by his music.
Wilcher's piano piece, "Autumn Rain", was published by J. Albert & Son when he was 17. He also studied with other classical musicians. He began a 30-year friendship with composer Miriam Hyde. Hyde said that Wilcher could create sensitive music despite the "ugliness and violence" in the world. In 1976, Wilcher became an assistant editor for J. Albert & Son's Classical/Educational Division. This work helped him learn about both classical and pop music. He met famous musicians like Bon Scott from AC/DC and Marc Hunter of Dragon.
In the 1980s, Wilcher worked for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). There, he met American composer Ned Rorem, who greatly influenced his ideas about creativity. Rorem once wrote to Wilcher, "The meaning of Life is to seek Life's meaning." They corresponded for over 30 years.
Also in the 1980s, Wilcher became friends with the family of American pianist Liberace. He visited them many times in Las Vegas. In 1989, he played at a celebration for Liberace's birthday. He received a letter of thanks from Vince Fronza, who had spoken at Liberace's funeral. Through Fronza, Wilcher also met and befriended Ruby Keeler in 1992. She was a famous American actress, dancer, and singer.
The Wiggles and Children's Music
In the late 1980s, Wilcher started working in a music program for young children at Macquarie University. In 1990, he met Anthony Field, who was studying child development. Field asked Wilcher to help record their first album. Wilcher says he composed most of the music for this album. The album included "Summer Dance," a piece he wrote at 14, which became "Archie's Theme." Wilcher was nicknamed Archie because he admired Liberace. He appeared in two of the Wiggles' early videos.
In 1992, Wilcher left the Wiggles. A spokesperson said he resigned to focus on classical music. However, Wilcher claims he had a verbal agreement to continue as a composer/writer for the group. Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) awarded the band members, including Wilcher, with gold and platinum awards for their first album.
In 1993, Wilcher published A Musical Offering, a lesson plan for early childhood music. Australian composer Dulcie Holland praised it as an "ingenious and imaginative approach to music." Other early childhood experts also praised his work.
In 2000, the Wiggles re-recorded their first album as "Wiggle Time." They removed all of Wilcher's compositions from it. In 2005, when the Wiggles became very successful, some news reports suggested Wilcher criticized them. However, he later said reporters had misunderstood him.
Classical Music Career
Wilcher has composed over 100 pieces for solo piano, as well as for soloists with piano and for small groups of instruments. His music is a mix of classical styles. It is influenced by composers like Chopin and J.S. Bach. Some of his works use Eastern scales, like his Six Etudes, which use Chinese and Japanese scales.
He has composed music for other pianists and musicians. He also set poetry by American writer Jack Larson to music. Larson, famous for playing Jimmy Olsen in the 1950s Superman TV show, gave Wilcher a poem. Wilcher set it to music as a gift.
In 2007, Wilcher composed "1791" to honor Mozart. This piece was performed by an oboist and a string ensemble. It appeared on the album Into His Countenance (2008), which featured various artists playing Wilcher's music. His works are on several other CDs. Pianist Jeanell Carrigan has recorded six CDs of his compositions. She said Wilcher's music can transport listeners to different places with its harmonies and rhythms.
Wilcher has performed solo and with ensembles, including three times for the Liberace Foundation in Las Vegas. In 1992, he performed at the Liberace Museum. The Liberace Club of Las Vegas praised his "magnificent performance" and "brilliant piano artistry."
His music has been broadcast on radio stations like ABC-FM and 2MBS-FM. He is a life member of Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). He also writes articles for the Australian Music Teacher Magazine about composers like Chopin and Brahms. From 2005 to 2007, Wilcher's music was part of the soundtrack for the Australian TV show, Neighbours.
In 2011, after learning about the death of American YouTuber Benjamin Daniel Breedlove, Wilcher wrote "Remembered On Waking" for string quartet. This piece was on his 2014 album Heaven-Haven. During the album's creation, Wilcher heard about the death of 18-year-old Thomas Kelly in Sydney. He dedicated the album to Kelly and announced that proceeds would help the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation.
Wilcher's 2017 album, The Voice of Love, is dedicated to Rosemary Eather. She was the host of the Australian children's TV show, Good Morning!!!. The album features piano and cello pieces. In 2021, Dr. Jeannine Baker wrote a report about women in early Australian television. This inspired Wilcher to donate his letters with Rosemary Eather to the National Film and Sound Archive.
Also in 2017, soprano Ayse Goknur Shanal performed two of Wilcher's songs at the Sydney Opera House. One was "Spirit Song," written for her 'Songs for Refugees' concert. This concert raised money for a charity that helps refugees.
More recently, Wilcher has published books, including his autobiography, Thinking Allowed. He has written a piano recital for pianist Simon Tedeschi. Other pianists from around the world have also performed his music. Simon Tedeschi said Wilcher's music "dreamily evokes another time, another place."
Wilcher continues to compose and release music. His most recent album, Spellbound, came out in 2019. A reviewer for "The Studio" journal said the album shows Wilcher's "sensitivity and experience." The reviewer also noted that Wilcher "is an Australian composer, paving a wonderful pathway for other young Australian composers to follow in."
In 2020, Wilcher was asked to write a piano piece in memory of pianist Shirley Paton. This piece, "When eyes first saw, thy beauty was as this ...", was published by Wirripang. A scholarship was later created in Shirley Paton's name, and pianists entering the competition must play Wilcher's piece. In 2022, Wilcher won Third Prize in the 7th Vienna International Music Competition for his composition, Rhapsody To The Memory of Richard Addinsell. He also won awards in the "4th World Championship for Composition" for other pieces.
Later Life and Family
For 12 years, Wilcher was a full-time carer for his father, who was ill. Wilcher donated the upright Mignon piano his father bought him as a child to a home for Ukrainian refugees. This was the piano on which he composed his first published piece, "Daybreak." This donation was made in memory of his father, Leslie James Wilcher, who passed away on August 20, 2022.
Personal Faith
In March 1991, Phillip Wilcher was baptized at Mount St. Francis Friary. Anthony Field, from the Wiggles, encouraged him to explore the Catholic faith. Anthony Field became his godfather, and Anthony's mother, Marie, became his godmother. Today, Wilcher does not belong to one specific church, but he believes the teachings of Christ are important in his life.
Discography
Studio albums
- Arabesque (2000)
- Out of the Blowing Sands (2001)
- Etchings (2002)
- Shimmer (2004)
- Bundanon (2009)
- Wind Chimes (2012)
- Heaven Haven (2014)
- The Voice of Love (2017)
- Spellbound (2019)
Compilation albums
- Into His Countenance (2008)
- Goldleafing a Dream (2011)
Images for kids
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A letter written by actor Jack Larson to composer Phillip Wilcher, March 2000
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Phillip Wilcher performing at the Liberace Museum in Las Vegas, 16 May 1992
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