Julia Philippens

Dutch violinist Julia Philippens has evolved as a genre-surpassing musician. Improvising on jazz music or contemporary classical music became her second nature after finishing her classical violin training. 
Julia is a sought-after soloist being regularly invited for different solo performances as a guest of the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, Noord Nederlands Orkest, Somer Kamerorkest, Konrad Koselleck Bigband, Philharmonic Sudwestfalen, and the Zurich Jazz Orchestra. She has collaborated with a broad range of artists, including Didier Lockwood, Justin Dicioccio, Ed Kowalczyk, Herbert Grönemeyer, Benjamin Herman, Kinan Azmeh, Michael Borstlap, Ruud Jacobs and Oliver Heldens. 
Highlighting Julia Philippens' remarkable journey is the jazz violin concerto In Technicolorcomposed for her by the talented Thomas Beijer. A composition that she has masterfully performed in collaboration with the Noord Nederlands Orkest under the baton of conductor Clark Rundell. Effortlessly fusing classical and jazz elements to create a captivating musical experience. Her recent performances have taken her on a national tour to some of the most prestigious Dutch stages, including De Doelen in Rotterdam and Tivoli Vredenburg in Utrecht.
Julia holds a Master's degree from the Amsterdam Conservatory, earning the prestigious Summa Cum Laude distinction. The conservatory's committee recognized her as a "unique and pioneering violinist, celebrated for her radiant stage presence."
During her studies Julia co-founded the ensemble Fuse for which she plays, arranges and composes. With their bold approach to string playing and a matching stage presence, Fuse rapidly became a one-to-watch formation on the cutting edge of Dutch musical life. They have performed over 120 shows in nearly two years, at a wide range of stages such as The Rijksmuseum, Tivoli Vredenburg, Paradiso, at The Concertgebouw Tracks series, Wonderfeel and in clubs, churches, concert halls and living rooms all over the Netherlands. 
Julia firmly believes in the power of improvisation, which enables artists to express themselves, to above all create a new level of communication. She advocates for a boundary-free approach to music, transcending genre constraints and fear of the unknown.
Starting her journey as a jazz violinist, Julia noticed the lack of role models who successfully bridged classical and jazz music. Her goal is to make this path more accessible for aspiring musicians. Her commitment to this mission even led her to teach violin at the jazz department in Den Haag in previous years.
Collaboration is central to Julia's artistic identity. She has performed with her sister, violinist [https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosanne%20Philippens Rosanne Philippens, at international festivals and embarked on a Dutch tour in 2018, featuring a blend of classical compositions by Bach and Chopin alongside the works of jazz legends like Charlie Parker and John Coltrane.
Julia is a regular guest on Dutch television programs. Performing as the house band of the Dutch TV show ‘Podium Klassiek’. She has also made appearances on popular daily talk show ’De Wereld Draait Door’, and has been featured on various radio channels. Julia composed the intro for TV show ’Opium’, while her band Fuse recorded the theme music.
Their debut Album “Studio” released in 2016 was nominated for and Edison award, one of the highest prizes in the Dutch musical scene. 
Together with Fuse have been organizing the ConFuse concert series since 2012, providing a platform for emerging talent and nurturing creative music collaborations.
In addition to her skills as a violinist, Julia has embarked on a journey of composition, where she translates the voices and emotions of others into music. This creative endeavor began in 2018, marking a new chapter in her musical career.
Her inaugural octet, "Hommage à Enescu," had its premiere at Theaters Tilburg, performed by Rosanne Philippens & friends, and was broadcast live on Radio 4. Following this, her Opus 2, Influent, premiered in December 2020 at Podium Witteman and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. In August 2021, the orchestral rendition of Influent had its premiere at the Veenhuizen Festival, further solidifying Julia's role as a versatile composer and musician.
Category:Musicians by genre
Category:Jazz techniques
Category:Contemporary classical music