Philip Seward lists among his operatic and musical works, The Rider, a short work for tenor, piano, oboe, (premiered Chicago 2010), Nimue (premiered 2007 in Edinburgh, Scotland), Downtown (2007 at Stages Festival in Chicago), Sincerely Yours (2003), Juan Peron’s Hand (2002) at the Northtown Arts Center; Les Dames à trois...et piano, developed with singers Natalie Arduino, Amy Becker and Patrice Boyd (2000) at Theatre Building Chicago; High Fidelity (1998) Chicago Humanities Festival and (1999) Merkin Hall in New York; Spreading The News (1998) at North Park University; Hans Brinker (1994) at Theatre Building Chicago which was also a recipient of several Jeff Citations and an After Dark Award.
Commissions include the youth operas African Stories (2007), A Noteworthy Tale (2002) and Stone Soup (2001) commissioned by Lyric Opera of Chicago (which have been performed across the U.S. and Canada); Blessing (2003) for the Lira Chamber Chorus to celebrate the 25th Papal anniversary; Psalm 8 (1997) commissioned by the Lyric Opera Chapters Executive Board as a musical memorial for former Artistic Director, Ardis Krainik. He is currently an Artist-in-Residence at Columbia College of Chicago.
Instrumental works include American Reflections for solo piano (premiered 2010 Chicago's Millennium Park Concert Series), Incidental music for the North American premiere of Mileva Einstein (2002) at Oakton College; and Dance Suite from the Prince & the Pauper (2002) by C5.
Mr. Seward is a co-conductor of the Lira Ensemble of Chicago and has served both as a free-lance conductor and performer for many ensembles, musical shows and operas. He is also the music director at St. James Presbyterian Church in Chicago.
As a pianist and singer, Mr. Seward has concertized in the United States and in Europe in particular performing his own compositions and the works of other American composers.