Philip Mark Jones was born in Bath, to a family of brass musicians; his father was to join the BBC Symphony Orchestra in 1939. By the age of nine Philip was playing the bugle as a sea cadet. In 1944 he won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music.
Hired at the age of 20, as fourth (bass) trumpet in the Royal Opera House Orchestra; at 21 he was appointed first trumpet, playing for Erich Kleiber among others. His name was made - and, remarkably, he became, in succession, principal trumpet of the major London orchestras - the Royal Philharmonic (1956-60), the Philharmonia (1960-64), the London Philharmonic (1964-65), the New Philharmonia (1965-67) and the BBCSO (1960-71).
In 1951, he formed the Brass Ensemble that bore his name. Initially its members all came from the Royal Opera House Orchestra.
In the early 1960s Jones began to involve Elgar Howarth, a trumpet-player who shared his views about contemporary music. Howarth played an important part in the Ensemble's development.
In 1988, he was appointed Principal of Trinity College of Music. He converted the college's examinations department into a successful commercial company whose profits returned to the college through a trust.
Before retiring from Trinity, Jones had served for a number of years on the awards and trusts committee of the Musicians Benevolent Fund, latterly as chairman. Then, in 1995, he took on the chairmanship of the fund.
Appointed OBE in 1977, he was advanced to CBE in 1986.
His wife Ursula survives him.
