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Hailed by the BBC as a "talent to watch out for, who conveys a mature command of his forces," American conductor Philip Mann is quickly gaining a reputation as a dynamic artist on three continents. Currently, Mann is an American Conducting Fellow and the San Diego Symphony's Assistant Conductor, where he conducts selected Jacobs' Masterworks concerts, Symphony Exposed, family, education, Kinder Konzert, pops, and other special programs. The winner of the Vienna Philharmonic's Karajan Fellowship at the Salzburg Festival, Mann has also served as cover conductor for the Cleveland Orchestra and as the Schmidt Conducting Fellow of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Active in both symphonic and operatic repertory, Mann has served as music director of the Oxford City Opera, Oxford Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra/Oxford Pops, principal guest conductor of the Arizona Camerata, and assistant conductor of the Indiana University Opera Theater. He maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor, with his New York debut at Avery Fischer Hall. As a proponent of new and American music, he has conducted numerous world premiers of prominent composers, including John Corigliano. Elected a Rhodes Scholar, he taught at Oxford, and won the annual competition to become principal conductor of the Oxford University Philharmonia. Under his leadership, the Philharmonia received international attention, and the Swedish press acclaimed their Brahms Symphony No. 4 as "perfectly skillful…joyful… overwhelming."

While in England, Mann studied with Alan Hazeldine of London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Colin Metters at the Royal Academy of Music, and Marios Papadopolous of the Oxford Philomusica. He worked with Leonard Slatkin and the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center's National Conducting Institute and Michael Tilson Thomas at the New World Symphony. Mentorship with Esa-Pekka Salonen and Jorma Panula followed at the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Conducting Masterclasses. He has also worked under Imre Pallo, David Effron, John Poole, and Thomas Baldner at Indiana University where he was appointed visiting lecturer in orchestral conducting. Additional studies came under the Bolshoi Theater's music director, Alexander Vedernikov at the Moscow State Conservatory, Gustav Meir, Kenneth Keisler, and with Pulitzer Prize winning composer Robert Ward at the Conductor's Institute at Spoleto.

Trained as a violinist, Mann has appeared as a soloist, concertmaster, and chamber player in the US and abroad. He is the recipient of numerous awards including a commendation from the Lieutenant Governor of California, ASU Herberger College of Fine Arts Outstanding Graduate Award, and a service award from the mayor of the city of Chandler, Arizona.

Philip Mann, Assistant Conductor & Conducting Fellow of the San Diego Symphony, is a member of the American Conducting Fellows Program, a national program developed and managed by the League of American Orchestras. The program supports the musical and leadership development of exceptionally talented conductors in the early stages of their professional careers. It aims to improve the qualifications of American conductors to assume leadership roles as music directors of American orchestras. Funding for the American Conducting Fellows Program is provided by a major grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Participant Orchestras are the Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, and Houston Symphony.