Phil Keen

Phil Keen, Artist Teacher Trombone/Bass Trombone, is a member of the Long Beach Symphony, the Monterey Symphony, the Fresno Philharmonic, the Redlands Symphony and the Riverside Philharmonic. He is also a member of the Americus Brass Band (a period civil war re-enactment brass band) and the Long Beach Municipal Band.

Phil earned a Bachelor of Music degree from California State University, Long Beach in Music Education and a Masters degree in Trombone Performance from the University of Michigan. His principal teachers were Denis Smith, Jeff Reynolds, Robert Simmergren, and John Hollenbeck. Additionally he also studied with Robert Sanders, Loren Marsteller and William Booth.

His early years on the trombone found him performing on the Gong Show (he didn’t win) and in his post collegiate years, he could be found performing (paying his dues) in Knotts Berry Farm and Disneyland Entertainment. Extensive touring throughout the country with The Make Believe Brass Quintet and The Americus Brass Band gave him practical experience in brass chamber playing and live performance.

Phil has had the privilege of working with many highly regarded orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The New York Philharmonic, L.A. Chamber Orchestra, L.A. Opera, San Diego Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Opera Pacific, Long Beach Opera, The New Sousa Band and many other Southern California orchestras, brass chamber ensembles, ballet and opera companies. Notable conductors he has worked under would include, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Bramwell Tovey, David Robertson, John Mauceri, James Conlon and Carl St. Clair.

His live show work would include performances with Andrea Bocelli, Danny Elfman Live, David Foster, Seth MacFarlane, Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas, Video Games Live and The American Music Awards. Occasionally he can also be found in the theater playhouses of the Pantages, La Mirada and the La Jolla Playhouse performing Broadway shows.

Mr. Keen can also be heard contributing to soundtracks by Idina Menzel/Michael Buble, Fallout Boy, Anne-Sophie Mutter/John Williams, Barbara Streisand, Danny Elfman, Steven Spielberg/John Williams and remake tracks for The Who.

In addition he has also recorded on more than 200 movie and tv soundtracks for many of the major studios in Hollywood. Noting a small portion of the recording work he has participated in, he can be heard on soundtracks from Alice in Wonderland to Ghostbusters, The Secret Life of Pets 1 & 2 to Jack Reacher, Cars 3 to Pirates of the Caribbean, First Man to Toy Story 4. TV shows such as Agents of Shield and The Mandalorian, The Orville and Empire. Lastly he’s proud to be included as part of the orchestras for the soundtracks of Star Wars episodes 7-9: The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker.

With his current studio of trombone students at The University of Redlands, Phil is also on the faculties of California State University Fullerton, Pomona College, Fullerton College and Long Beach City College where he teaches low brass studies. Over the years he has maintained a private studio with many of his former students auditioning and winning positions in SCSBOA and All State honor groups, the Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles and continuing on to study at such notable schools as The Julliard School, UCLA, USC, CSULB, Biola and Chapman Universities.

A frequent performer of all instruments in the low brass family, Mr. Keen specializes on the alto, tenor, bass and contra bass trombones, bass trumpet, euphonium and tuba. This diversity of instruments has allowed him to explore many facets of brass performance and formulate teaching ideas for his students to branch out from the norms of traditional brass performers.

• B.M. California State University Long Beach

• M.M. University of Michigan