11 Facts About Cynthia Phelps

Cynthia Phelps is a former faculty member of the Manhattan School of Music and is currently a faculty member at the Juilliard School.

Cynthia Phelps has appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras throughout the world including the Minnesota Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, Orquesta Sinfonica de Bilbao, and Hong Kong Philharmonic.

Cynthia Phelps has toured internationally as a member of the Zukerman and Friends Ensemble, appeared with the Guarneri String Quartet, and performed in recital in Paris, Rome, London, and Cardiff, Wales, as well as in Boston, Los Angeles, New York and Washington.

Cynthia Phelps is a recipient of the Pro Musicis International Award, and a top prize winner at both the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition and the Washington International String Competition.

Cynthia Phelps has recorded for the Marlboro Recording Society, and the Covenant, Nuova Era, Polyvideo, Virgin Classics labels, and most recently Cala Records where her first solo CD was released.

Cynthia Phelps uses a mix of Pirastro and Jargar strings.

Cynthia Phelps had previously played a viola by Giovanni Tononi.

Cynthia Phelps began her musical training on the violin at age four.

Cynthia Phelps did not like the sound of the violin, so she switched to viola at age eleven.

Cynthia Phelps then studied at the USC Thornton School of Music where she earned her bachelor's degree in music performance in 1978.

Cynthia Phelps went on to get her master's degree from the University of Michigan in 1984.