PHIL HOLLAND
CELTIC HARP AND VOICE
Phil Holland is a classically trained violinist, having studied at and graduated from the Royal Academy of Music, London. However, these days she is better known as a Celtic harpist/multi-instrumentalist/singer/songwriter and has performed extensively in Europe.
She is of Irish and Scottish origin, rooted and educated in Celtic music and western classical music. Phil’s music however transcends category and genre. Her music takes inspiration from her ethnic roots, but also reflects her eclectic background. She has self-produced 5 CDs for Celtic harp and voice; Lagan, Stories, Going Home, Faeries and Seascapes.
In 2008 Phil opened one of the most important music festivals in Greece, the “Lefkas Speech and Arts Festival”, performing for the president of the Greek Republic, Karolos Papoulias. In 2009, she conceived and launched the very first Sappho Festival by performing on the rock from which Sappho jumped to her death 2500 years ago.
Phil has also worked professionally as a violinist in London and Italy, including successful collaborations on various professional recordings for EMI and Decca, including Marc Almond’s “The Stars We Are” and Barry Adamson’s “Moss Side Story”. In Italy she opened her own violin school, “Divertimento Academy” developing her own personal and innovative teaching style, writing music specifically for her students and fiddle group.
She is currently playing with Dave Palmley in the Celtic Duo Celtic Twist. (Phil Holland: Celtic harp, violin and voice. Dave Palmley: guitar and voice
“Phil Holland is a discerning and exacting performer. Her (not so secret) weapon is her sweetness and delicacy; in the movement of her violin bow, in the plucking of the strings of her harp and in her voice, which amazes in its perfect moulding of ornamentations and long, held notes, always careful never to overdo either.
Charm and modesty are her emerging qualities which is why she is appreciated by such a wide-ranging audience.
Phil has all the qualities to make people dream if they enter into her world.”
Folk Bulletin
contacts:
http://hollandandpalmley.blogspot.com/
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