2017 Adjudicators

Dr. Rebecca Phillips

Bands, Brass, Chamber

Dr. Rebecca Phillips is the Director of Bands at Colorado State University where she conducts the CSU Wind Symphony and guides all aspects of the band and graduate wind conducting program. Prior to this appointment, she served as the Associate Director of Bands, Director of Athletic Bands, and Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina where she was responsible for directing the Symphonic Winds Concert Band, “The Mighty Sound of the Southeast” Carolina Marching Band, “Concocktion” Pep Bands, teaching undergraduate instrumental conducting, and directing the Carolina Summer Drum Major Clinic.

Dr. Phillips has served as a guest-conductor, clinician, and performer throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Most recently, she was invited to conduct chamber wind performances with members of the Prague National Symphony and the Stratus Symphony in the inaugural “2017 American Spring Festival” in Prague, The Czech Republic. In May 2018, she will conduct members of the Des Moines Symphony in a chamber winds concert at the Iowa Bandmasters Association Annual Conference.

Dr. Phillips regularly conducts collegiate honor bands and all-state bands across the United States and she has been a rehearsal clinician at the Midwest Clinic: An International Band and Orchestra Conference. Ensembles under her direction have been featured at the 2012 College Band Director’s National Association Southern Division Conference (CBDNA), the 2010 Society of Composers International Conference, and the 2008 North American Saxophone Alliance International Convention. In 2019, the Colorado State University Wind Symphony will be featured at the American Bandmasters Association National Convention.

Dr. Phillips believes in treasuring the traditional wind music of the past as well as promoting cutting edge works of today’s finest composers. She has conducted the world premiere of James David’s Big Four On the River, the world premiere of John Fitz Rogers’ Narragansett at the 2013 CBDNA National Convention, the consortium premiere of John Mackey’s Harvest: Concerto for Trombone and Wind Ensemble, the world premiere of Robert Bradshaw’s Las Apariencias Enganan, the consortium premiere of John Mackey’s Turbine, and the world premiere of Brett Dietz’s Crop Circles.

Her conducting performances of David del Tredici’s In Wartime and John Mackey’s Redline Tango are both featured on the nationally distributed Louisiana State University Wind Ensemble compact disc project and the world premiere of John Fitz Rogers Narragansett has recently been released on the Compact Disc And I Await, featuring Dr. Phillips as guest conductor of the University of South Carolina Wind Ensemble.

As a trombonist, Dr. Phillips’ performances can be found on several internationally distributed recordings. She has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra, U.S. Army Band (Pershing’s Own), the Tallahassee Symphony, and the Tampa Bay Opera Orchestra. She has also performed internationally in England, Mexico, the Caribbean, Russia, and Sweden, and has toured as a trombonist with Johnny Mathis and Barry Manilow.

A native of the Washington, D.C. area, Dr. Phillips earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from The Florida State University, Master of Music degrees in conducting and trombone performance from the University of South Florida, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in conducting at Louisiana State University.  She served as a secondary school band director for seven years in Florida, including Director of Bands at Howard W. Blake Performing Arts High School in Tampa, Florida where she developed an award-winning concert band program.

Dr. Phillips holds memberships in the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, the College Band Directors National Association, the National Band Association, and in 2014 she was elected into the American Bandmasters Association. She has served on the national CBDNA Collegiate Marching Band committee, the CBDNA Music Education committee, and is currently the NBA College/University Representative.