(1953– )
Pam Phillips, manager, producer, graphic artist, publicist and string educator, plans and produces the string education activities undertaken in partnership with her husband, Bob Phillips. With Bob, the famous composer and teacher, she travels extensively presenting clinics for teachers and working with students. Pam brings a broad understanding of the classroom and public school atmosphere to the construction of the clinics and workshops. This was most helpful when she served as Chair of the 2007 ASTA National Conference. She also coordinates projects and development of new materials. Currently working with promotion and development of Bob's books and compositions for Alfred Music Publishing, Pam masterminds many activities. Pam and Bob also consult with various artists concerning school activities.
Pam graduated from the University of Michigan and then ran a successful business for many years. With Mary Kay Cosmetics she reached the level of Team Manager earning the use of three cars. This experience in sales, training and motivation became part of all future musical and educational endeavors. After spending these years in business and raising three musicians, Pam turned her full time energies to the arts. Pam served as arts administrator for the performing ensemble, Saline Fiddlers Philharmonic in Saline, MI, for the first eight years after the group's founding. She also served as a substitute music teacher and assisted in program development for the Saline music program. One specialty of Pam's is communication between the community and the music department. Together with Bob, she founded a new string program in Tecumseh, MI planning advocacy, interface with parents, classroom activities and assembling a ten-year plan for the new program. Pam is responsible for the development, marketing and organization of the Phillips Family Fiddle Camps, which ran successfully from 1997-2000 reaching over 500 students. An earlier collaboration with Barrage resulted in the well-received String Alternatives Workshops for teachers.
Pam has assisted in the graphic design and development of the Fiddlers Philharmonic, Jazz Philharmonic, String Alternative and String Explorer series for Alfred Music Publishing. Pam served as producer, editor, writer and graphic artist for the newly released DVD series, String Clinics to Go: The Art of Recruiting and Getting Started, distributed by Shar Products.
Recognized as Citizens of the Year by the City of Saline for their work in arts education, Bob and Pam were also honored in special ceremonies by both the House and the Senate of the State of Michigan for their work with the Saline Fiddlers.
They have three daughters who have taught at the Phillips Family Fiddle Camps and the Michigan ASTA camps. Two daughters, who are string teachers, also give fiddle clinics in their regions. The third daughter, a math teacher, continues to teach at summer music camps and play bass on the side.