Mark W. Phillips
Department Head and Professor
Department Head and Professor
Concert Band
Phone: (936) 261-3336
Email: mwphillips@pvamu.edu
Mark W. Phillips, a native of Petersburg, Virginia received the Bachelor of Music, Cum-laude and Master of Education degrees from Virginia State University. He received the Ph. D. in Music Education from the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Phillips has studied further at the University of Virginia, University of North Carolina and Vandercook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois.
Dr. Phillips’ teaching career began in the public schools of Virginia where he was band director and chairman of the Fine Arts Department for Prince Edward High School. He left this position to become director of bands at Livingstone College. He taught ten years at Prairie View A&M University before assuming the position of Chairman of the Music Department at Virginia State University as a Professor of Music. Dr. Phillips is currently Professor and Head of the Department of Music and Theatre at Prairie View A&M University. A position he assumed in 2015.
Dr. Phillips has been a musician with the Petersburg Symphony, Salisbury Symphony, Catawba Brass Ensemble, Texas University Trombone Teachers Ensemble, and the Oklahoma Sacbutt ensemble. Dr. Phillips holds membership in many professional and honorary organizations that include Music Educators’ National Conference, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, Phi Delta Kappa, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and the National Association for the Study and Performance of African American Music (NASPAAM). He has served as President of the Intercollegiate Music Association and the Petersburg Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors.
Dr. Phillips, a 2015 Conn-Selmer VIP, conducted the brass ensemble at Prairie View that performed throughout the eastern United States. His ensemble was also featured live on the Classical radio station of Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. Dr. Phillips, who was selected for inclusion in the 2002 listing of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, and the recipient of the Bank of America Outstanding Teaching Award. Dr. Phillips students have performed for President Obama at the White House and for First Lady Michelle Obama.