Violinist Elizabeth “Libby” Phelps, whose playing has been described as “vigorous and vivacious” with “impressive technique and interpretive sensibility” (CVNC), leads a diverse musical career. Her repertoire spans across centuries and genres, from period-instrument performances of the early baroque to contemporary works and collaborations with singer-songwriters. Growing up in New Haven, Connecticut, Elizabeth began violin just shy of her fourth birthday at the Bethwood Suzuki School in Bethany, CT with Lisa Barca-Hall.

Elizabeth was a fellow in the New World Symphony from 2009 to 2013, working with a myriad of conductors and musicians. Highlights of her fellowship include playing in masterclasses for Jorja Fleezanis and Jordi Savall, joining Paula Robison for a performance Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire, and performing Brahms’ Viola Quintet in G Major with Christian Tetzlaff. In the summer of 2010, Ms. Phelps attended the Lucerne Festival Academy in Switzerland where she worked with members of Ensemble Intercontemperain and the late Pierre Boulez.

Following her fellowship with New World, Ms. Phelps spent four years as Principal Second Violin of the North Carolina Symphony in Raleigh. She soloed frequently with the orchestra (including, notably, a performance of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 on piccolo violino) and performed numerous recitals and chamber music throughout the state. From 2014-2019, she was on faculty for the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, NC as a teacher, chamber coach, and member of the first violin section. Other highlights from her time in North Carolina include performing with composer and singer-songwriter Gabriel Kahane at Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, collaborating with dancers from Black Irish for a performance of Caroline Shaw’s quartet “Entr’acte” at Kings Barcade in Raleigh, as well as both recording and performing with Kaira Ba, a North Carolina based band featuring renowned kora player Diali Cissokho.

Baroque music was always such a keen interest for Libby that in 2015, she decided to immerse herself in historical performance, attending workshops with the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, the American Bach Soloists, the San Francisco Early Music Society, and the San Leo Festival for Enrico Onofri’s annual masterclass. In August of 2017, she joined harpsichordist Jeannette Sorrell for a recital at the Grand Teton Music Festival in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and now performs regularly with the Seattle Baroque Orchestra and the Portland Baroque Orchestra.

Ms. Phelps received her bachelor and master degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music. While there, she was actively involved with the school’s New Music Ensemble, working closely with the composition students. In 2008 at the end of her studies, she joined forces with those composers along with other like-minded musicians to form the FiveOne Experimental Orchestra, a collective dedicated to performing works that connect contemporary chamber music with popular culture. They performed in a new, unique space for each performance, which inspired Elizabeth to seek out more accessible venues for performance when she moved to Miami Beach. With her colleagues in the New World Symphony, she started “Impromptu:”, a free, monthly chamber series at Art Center South Florida on the Lincoln Road pedestrian mall in Miami Beach.

From 2005-2010, Elizabeth played in the Canton Symphony, serving as Acting Principal Second Violin for the last season. Other ensembles she has played with include the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra, Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, Verbier Festival Orchestra, Des Moines Metro Opera Orchestra, and the Artosphere Festival Orchestra. Lately, she can be seen playing with the Seattle Symphony, the North Corner Chamber Orchestra, the Saratoga Orchestra, and the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra.

Elizabeth is fortunate to have studied with Professor Paul Kantor, Stephen Rose of the Cleveland Orchestra, Amy Goodman, and Wendy Sharp. She is also grateful to Elizabeth Blumenstock, Elizabeth Field, Jeannette Sorrell, Julia Wedman, and David Wilson for aiding and abetting her baroque journey. Her modern violin is an Italian instrument by Pietro Gallinotti finished in 1949 and her baroque violin is by Seattle-based violin maker David van Zandt from 1991. She plays on both a modern and classical bow made by Portland-based bow maker Jacob Mitas, as well as a 17th century bow by Marco Reoletti.

Ms. Phelps resides in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle. In addition to her historical and musical interests, she loves to learn about educational philosophy and brain development. She also enjoys cartoons, computer games from her childhood, eating new food, and tending to her houseplants.