Philip Allen Sparke was born on 29 December 1951 in London. He is renowned as an English composer and musician, particularly for his concert and brass band compositions. Sparke began his musical journey at the Royal College of Music, where he studied composition, trumpet, and piano. It was here that his passion for bands developed, leading him to form a brass band with fellow students and compose various pieces for both brass and wind ensembles.

His early significant work, “The Land of the Long White Cloud – Aotearoa,” was written in 1980 for a brass band championship in New Zealand. Over the years, he has won several prestigious awards, including the Sudler Prize for his work “Dance Movements” and the Iles Medal for his contributions to brass bands. Since 2000, Sparke has published his music through his own label, Anglo Music Press. His compositions are performed worldwide, greatly influencing the brass band community.