Michelle Phillips

Dr. Michelle Phillips is Head of Enterprise (Academic) and Senior Lecturer in Music Psychology at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM). Her research spans music psychology, live music experience analysis, and music's role in health contexts like Parkinson’s. She leads the £1m StART Entrepreneurship Project and chairs the RNCM Research Ethics Committee. Phillips holds roles at the Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Educators UK. Her work combines empirical studies (e.g., brain response measurement with Manchester Camerata) and interdisciplinary collaborations. She supervises 4 PhD students and advises on music-related projects globally. Publications include Music and Time: Psychology, Philosophy, Practice (2022) and articles on audience neuroscience and creative industries.

• Education: PhD in Music (Cambridge), BA/MA (Hons), ACA, FCA
• Research Funding: Over £1M secured since 2019, including UKRI and Research England grants

Research highlights include hyperscanning studies on neural coupling during music-making and investigations into music’s therapeutic applications for Parkinson’s patients. Phillips appears frequently in media (BBC, ITV) and curates exhibitions like the Science Museum’s Turn It Up. As a saxophonist and chartered accountant, she bridges artistic and analytical domains.