Philip E. Norris

Coordinator of Brass, Winds,and Percussion
Instrumental Methods, Trumpet, Theory, Music Technology
NWC 1993

Dr. Phil Norris, a native of Pennsylvania, has been Professor of Music at Northwestern College since 1993, teaching courses in instrumental music education, music theory, trumpet, music technology, and music history. Norris' music study has been at Grace College (BME), Winona Lake, Ind.; Northwestern University (MM-trumpet); and the University of Minnesota (DMA-trumpet). He has studied under Jerry Franks, Luther Didrickson, Vincent Cichowicz, David Baldwin and Gary Bordner (trumpet), John Paynter (band/conducting), and Arnold Jacobs (wind respiration and brass).

As a writer, he has published over 25 band and brass pieces with Volkwein, Columbia Pictures, and David E. Smith publishers. John Paynter wrote of his music, "...absolutely superb! Such great imagination, musicianship, practicality, and general effectiveness." Robert Page of the Cleveland Symphony Chorus said of Norris' Psalm 90, "Wonderful festival piece." Crown Music Press in Chicago has published his Top 50 Orchestral Audition Excerpts for Trumpet, now in its third printing, including an endorsement by Adolph Herseth, as well as his Uncommon Ceremonial Works for Trumpet, a collection of ten original works for trumpet and organ/keyboard. In 2007 he completed an orchestration of Ewazen’s Sonata for Trumpet which is now available on rental from Southern Music Co. and is titled Concerto No. 1 for Trumpet and Orchestra.

Norris is an active performer in the Twin Cities including appearances with the Minnesota Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. He frequently speaks and has published articles on wind instrument pedagogy for state, national and international conferences, including the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic and the ITG.

Phil, his wife, Julie, and their three children live in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

B.M.E. (Grace College);
M.Mus. (Northwestern University);
D.M.A. (University of Minnesota).