Bio

Phillip Psillidese was born in Cyprus in 1987. He started playing the drums at the age of 11. Two Years later in 2001, Philip had the opportunity to develop his drumming skills at his local church “Nicosia Christian Centre,” where he still serves faithfully in the Worship. He has participated in numerous concerts, church events and mission trips mostly in Greece, Albania, Israel and Germany.

Philip had studied Jazz through “Jazz Futures” a program sponsored by the U.S. Embassy, where he had the opportunity to play with and learn Jazz New York musicians such as: saxophonist Chris Byars, double-bass Ari Roland, saxophonist Zaid Nasser, pianist Sacha Perry, singer Yaala Ballin, guitarist Ofer Landsberg, singer Marion Cowings, pianist Vahagn Hayrapetian, drummer George Fludas, drummer Keith Balla, drummer Stefan Schatz and drummer Philip Stewart.

Attending the “Jazz Futures” was the start of Philip’s career as a drummer. What followed as touring around Cyprus with numerous bands which helped gain more experience as a musician. By the age of 21, Philipp was offered a scholarship at the University of Nicosia, were he majored in Jazz Performance-Drums. During the same period he was offered a job as a drum teacher at “Piano Studio” (Music School) and at “American International School” (Private School).

By the time he had completed his Bachelor’s degree, Philip had already performed in numerous Jazz concerts for the university, in many Jazz and Latin gigs around Cyprus with notable Jazz musicians such as: saxophonist Charis Ioannou, pianist Marios Toumbas, bassist Michalis Messios, bassist Cahit Kutrafali, singer Ioanna Troullidou, double-bass Greg Makamian, double-bass Irineos Koulouras, trumpet Mike Michail, Latin-Singer Pedro Son-Caliente, Latin-Singer Marjorie Montero, Latin Guitarist Salvador Mario Rodriguez, Conductor Yiannis Hadjiloizou, Latin-Jazz Pianist Edward Alexander Rodriquez, Latin-Singer Alberto Mendez Vega and many others. He also performed with many Jazz and Latin bands such as: “Symmetry-Trio.” “Combination Latina.” “Latin Connection”.

Philip also attended many drum workshops and seminars in Cyprus with drummers such as: Aaron Spears, Jojo Mayer and Ioannis Vafeas. After graduating in 2014 in Jazz Performance-Drums, Philipp traveled to New York where he took lessons from the well-known drummer Jean-Pierre Bouvet (JP Bouvet).

After New York, Philip travelled to Germany to attend Hillsong Church, Düsseldorf and joined the worship for 3 months as their drum player.

Currently, Philip lives in Cyprus and works as a professional drummer and instructor in the private school “American International,” in the music academy “Piano Studio” and runs his own drum school called, “Drums of Hope.” Philip is also the senior drummer in his local church and recently he assumed leadership of the Worship-Team in the same church, “Nicosia Christian Centre.”