Philip O’Connor is a Frank H. Buck Foundation Scholarship winner. This provided Phil with the unique opportunity of studying the clarinet and saxophone at California State University, Hayward (Bachelor of Arts), the Manhattan School of Music (Master of Music), and at University of Southern California (Advanced Studies Performance Certificate).

Phil has been fortunate to perform with many of southern California's fine ensembles, some of which include recent performances with the symphony orchestras of Long Beach, Pasadena, and Santa Barbara, the Los Angeles Opera, Opera Pacific, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and dedicated chamber orchestra concerts with Jacaranda, XTET, and Mladi. Recognized as a leading figure in contemporary music, Phil is a member of the highly acclaimed ensemble XTET. Phil has been involved in numerous live radio broadcasts for WQXR (New York), KJAZ, KMZT, and many others. As a clarinetist, he can be heard performing on numerous motion picture soundtracks, and television shows.

Phil is currently a professor of clarinet for the Old Town Conservatory of Music in Pasadena, and at the colleges in Riverside, California. Phil is a former student of Hal Stein, William Trimble, and Joe Henderson (saxophone), Ralph Martin, John Phillips,Don Carroll, William Wohlmacher, Peter Simenauer, Charles Russo, and Yehuda Gilad (clarinet).