Violist Cynthia Phillippi began a life immersed in music and art as a child before she began speaking. The journey with making music started with the piano, though as she added violin later on, she deeply resonated with communicating with the sonorous tones of stringed instruments. It was in high school exploring the deeper notes of the viola that she found the instrument that aligned most with her musical voice.
Since then, Cynthia has enjoyed the collaboration of chamber music and orchestral settings, especially during summers at Aspen and Kneisel Hall. Artists from whom she has gleaned a wealth of musical knowledge include Pam Frank, Ed Gazouleas, Antoine Tamestit, and Mia Chung, to name a few. Her years at the Curtis Institute of Music, studying viola with Roberto Díaz and Hsin-Yun Huang, shaped how she approaches sound and expression, especially when making music with others.
One of Cynthia’s favorite activities is reading chamber music with friends. Otherwise, you can usually find her exploring cooking and baking, hiking, painting, and growing in her relationship with God individually and in community.