Formal Biography

Julie Smith Phillips, appointed Principal Harpist of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra in 2007, is one of the most prominent American harpists today, performing as both an orchestral musician and concert artist. Internationally recognized for her performing style and diverse repertoire, Ms. Phillips’ playing has been described as “precise” and “luminous” (American Record Guide) “musically polished” (Hartford Courant) with “spectacular results” (San Diego Story). She is a two-time medalist in the USA International Harp Competition having received the Silver medal in 2004 and Bronze in 2001. She made her National Symphony Orchestra debut in 2003 and has been honored in numerous other competitions throughout the country.

A recitalist and soloist with orchestra, Ms. Phillips’ appearances include multiple solo performances with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, the New World Symphony Orchestra, the South Dakota Symphony, the West Los Angeles Symphony, the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, the National Repertory Orchestra and the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra, among others. She has been a featured soloist for multiple American Harp Society National Conferences, the USA International Harp Competition, Lyon & Healy’s 150th Birthday Celebration & Harptacular Concert series, the International Harp Festival, Harp Oklahoma Workshop, and has served as Guest Artist at the Young Artist Harp Seminar.

Equally experienced as a chamber and orchestral musician, Ms. Phillips collaborates with renowned musicians across the country. She has served as guest principal harpist with the Dallas Symphony, Houston Symphony and St. Louis Symphony and has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. As a chamber musician and a founding member of The Myriad Trio (flute, viola & harp), she regularly appears in chamber concerts across the country and has performed abroad in Italy, Japan, China and Taiwan. Her music festival credits include the Piedmont & Kingston Chamber Music Festivals, Breckenridge Music Festival, Bay Chamber, La Jolla SummerFest, Mainly Mozart, Mozaic Festival, Sun Valley Summer Symphony, Tanglewood Music Festival, National Repertory Orchestra, Spoleto USA Festival, and the Pacific Music Festival in Japan. Prior to her post in San Diego, she served as Acting Principal Harpist of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (2006-07) and Principal Harpist for the New World Symphony Orchestra (2004-06).

Ms. Phillips is an avid promoter and performer of new music. Numerous pieces have been written and premiered by Ms. Phillips including Tree Suite for Harp by Hannah Lash, Cactus, a double concerto for harp and violin by Michael Torke (premiered by the San Diego Symphony), The Eye of Night by David Bruce, Variations on a Simple Theme by Avner Dorman, Petal by Petal Lei Liang, Sonata by Jeremy Cavaterra, and Grace by Rand Steiger (trios premiered by The Myriad Trio). She is also a recipient of the Mario Falcao Prize for Best Performance of Mischa Zupko’s Despedida (contemporary music selection at the 2004 USA International Harp Competition).

Enriching, educating & coaching the future generation of harpists is extremely important to Ms. Phillips. Formerly head of the Harp Department at Arizona State University (2013-17), Ms. Phillips is the founder and director of the Nebraska Harp Workshop Retreat (www.nebraskaharp.com) located in Brownville, NE and maintains a private studio out of her home in San Diego working with harpists on skills and career guidance. She is a certified instructor in the Suzuki harp method, is a life-time member of the American Harp Society, and is currently serving as co-president of the San Diego Harp Society.

Ms. Phillips has recorded two albums: The Rhapsodic Harp (available through her website www.juliesmithphillips.com) and The Eye of Night (www.themyriadtrio.com). Attending the Cleveland Institute of Music, Ms. Phillips received her Bachelor and Master degrees in harp performance where she studied with Yolanda Kondonassis. Her other primary teachers have included Alice Chalifoux and Patrice Lockhart. Julie Smith Phillips is a native of Hastings, NE and now resides in San Diego, CA with her husband and three children.