Julie Smith Phillips

Principal Harpist of the San Diego Symphony since 2007, Julie Smith Phillips is an award-winning concert artist and chamber musician. A top prize winner in the 2004 and 2001 USA International Harp Competition, she has appeared as soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, the New World Symphony, the South Dakota Symphony, and the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra. As an orchestral harpist, she has served as Guest Principal Harp with the Chicago Symphony, St. Louis, Houston and Dallas Symphonies, has held Principal Harp posts with the Milwaukee Symphony and New World Orchestra, and has also played with the LA Phil and Minnesota Orchestra. Her festival credits include the Cabrillo Festival, Bay Chamber, Piedmont, Festival Mozaic, Mainly Mozart, Sun Valley, Tanglewood, National Repertory Orchestra, Spoleto USA, and Japan’s Pacific Music Festival. An active recitalist and teacher, Phillips is founder and director of the Nebraska Harp Retreat and is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied with Yolanda Kondonassis.