local art: Robert Phillips

Active as a composer as well as a performer, classical guitarist, Robert Phillips is known for interpreting the work of contemporary masters as well as bringing new vitality to masterpieces of the past. His repertoire includes works by Luciano Berio, Philip Glass, Alan Hovhaness, Eberhard Weber, and Thelonius Monk, as well as works by Ned Rorem, Benjamin Britten, Frank Martin, and in a more traditional vein Albeniz, Villa-Lobos, Tarrega, Ponce, Bach, Vivaldi, Scarlatti, and others. He also performs his own fine compositions, and has premiered works by Frank Brazinski, Eric Ross, Alfred Giusto, as well as an important new guitar sonata written for him by Meyer Kupferman.

Robert began playing the accordion at the age of 8, switching to guitar at 12. His earliest influences at that time were the Beatles. At the age of 15, Robert surpassed his guitar teacher, and spent the next few years working on his own, playing rock and folk guitar before entering Hofstra University as a music major on classical guitar. After graduating in 1975 he began private instruction under world renowned classical guitarist, Rey de la Torre. From 1977 until 1979, Robert studied with Carlos Barbosa-Lima. Following this, he earned an M.A. in music from Brooklyn College, where he studied under David Starobin. It was not until 1999 that he decided to return to school to earn a doctorate in music from the University of Miami.

After completing a successful instructional series for Group W Cable TV entitled "Classic Guitar Made Easy", Dr. Phillips was invited by Group W to produce and host a musically oriented talk show, "Long Island Sounds". He was worked on the editorial staff of "Guitar Review" magazine, and is a frequent contributor to "Soundboard", the quarterly journal of the Guitar Foundation of America. He spent three years as the classical guitar columnist for "Guitar for the Practicing Musician", and its highly respected sister publication, "Guitar Extra" before becoming a contributing writer for "Guitar Player". Many of his transcriptions and editions of works for classical guitar have been published in these magazines and by Cherry Lane Music Co., Inc.

Robert has been on the artist-in-residence roster for the states of Florida, North Carolina, Nebraska, Ohio, Louisiana, and Tennessee. He has served on the boards of advisors to both the Society of the Classic Guitar of New York, and the Long Island Classical Guitar Society, as well as the Board of Directors of Arts on the Park, in Lakeland. He was on the faculties of the Preparatory Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College, and the Mount Vernon Music Academy, and has conducted master classes and workshops in the US and Canada.

Phillips' debut recording, "Guitarre Nouveau" has been enthusiastically received by critics, and has had extensive air play by classical as well as New Age radio stations. His book, "Great Themes and Variations for Classic Guitar", published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc., and its two-CD companion recording are distributed internationally.

Robert has performed at Lincoln Center's Bruno Walter Auditorium, and his debut at Weill Recital at Carnegie Hall was sold out. He was featured in WQCD's "New Age New York Live" at Manhattan's prestigious Town Hall and his CD, "Guitarre Nouveau" was regularly played on that radio show. Dr. Phillips was an exclusive guest on National Public Radio show, "Around New York with John Schaefer", and has performed live on numerous other public and commercial radio stations.

Robert is currently recording the complete guitar music of Miguel Llobet, an important guitarist/composer from the early 20th century who was the mentor and primary influence on Robert's mentor and main influence, Rey de la Torre.

5 Questions with Robert Phillips:

1. If you were on a desert island and could only take 3 cds with you to listen what would they be? 3 books? CDs: The Bach Goldberg Variations, recorded by Glen Gould, The Beatles' Rubber Soul, and any good recording of the Mozart 41st Symphony. Books: Ulysses, The Great Gatsby, and All The Pretty Horses.
2. Name some sucky jobs you have held in the past, if applicable. Catering Hall runner, crate packager for Tropicana, moving bitch for a furniture store that was redecorating and needed things moved around the store.
3. Do you feel that the Tampa bay Area is a viable area for working artists? Barely.
4. If not what needs to be done locally to make the area more artist friendly? Improve arts education. In another generation or two the area will be viable.
5. What music are you currently listening too? My wife is in the next room singing "Beast of Burden". Not my first choice. Before she started singing, I was listening to John Cage's 4'33".

audio samples and contact:

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www.classicalguitarplayer.com