Robert Phillips

“Virtuosic playing and a perfect sense of timing,” raves Guitar Extra  of  ROBERT PHILLIPS debut recording, Guitarre Nouveau. Will Crutchfield in the New York Times noted his “aptitude for putting across character.”  His eclectic programming of classical music, Spanish guitar music, jazz, and contemporary music has excited audiences throughout the U.S., the Middle East, and Canada.  Since making his debut to a sold-out Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Robert has brought his brilliant interpretations to a diverse range of venues – from traditional concert halls including New York’s prestigious Town Hall, and Lincoln Center to jazz nightclubs.  He has appeared as a guest soloist with the Imperial Symphony Orchestra, the Bach Festival Orchestra, and the West Islip Chamber Orchestra.  Robert has appeared as a guest artist at the Miami International Guitar Festival, the Guitar Foundation of America, and the American String Teachers’ Association, as well as numerous regional level performing arts series.

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”.  Robert was formerly on the editorial staff of “Guitar Review” magazine, and has contributed a number of articles to “Soundboard”, the journal of the Guitar Foundation of America, and to "American String Teacher", the journal of the American String Teachers' Association.  He spent three years as the classical guitar columnist for “Guitar for the Practicing Musician”, and its 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.  His anthology, “Great Themes and Variations for Classic Guitar” was published by Mel Bay Publications, Inc., which also released his 2 CD recording of the same title.

"Robert Phillips ...was the high point of the symphonic soiree... (The) virtuosic usage of the solo instrument offered a dynamic listening experience.  Phillips tastefully performed the Concerto, with obvious attention to both rhythmic and melodic nuances of the composition. The performer... seemed to resonate intimately with the composition's spirit." - The Ledger

“…a dynamic performer who breathes life into the music he approaches…Phillips exploits the music’s physical vigor with virtuosic playing and a perfect sense of timing.”                         -Guitar Extra

“Guitarist Robert Phillips is an extraordinary artist whose central involvement and dedication to new music goes well beyond the ‘Mission Impossible’ approach of less imaginative players.   When Phillips plays my ‘Pipe Dream Sonata’ I feel he brings with him an entirely new dimension to the curious world of the guitar – its technique and its expressive image!"                         
                                 -Meyer Kupferman

 “…listeners were transported to a sunny street in Spain, and they never looked back.”          - The Ledger