Rapsodia Otoñal – Autumnal Rhapsody

Taiwanese violinist Pei-Chun Tsai received her Doctorate in Musical Arts from City University of New York with the publication of her dissertation on the violin writing of Richard Strauss. She also holds Bachelor and Masters Degrees in violin performance from The Juilliard School.

Founding director of the Campanile Music Festival at San Diego State University, Pei-Chun curates innovative residencies of visiting artists from across the country for her students. As a member of the San Diego Symphony since 2006 and violin lecturer at San Diego State University, Pei-Chun performs regularly with the SDSU chamber orchestra, and released an album of solo violin entitled Chaconnes in 2021 featuring the works by Tomaso Vitali, J.S. Bach, and fellow SDSU faculty composer Joseph Waters. Pei-Chun performs on a 2020 violin by Boston-based luthier Charline Dequincy.

Award winning harpist Julie Smith Phillips is one of the most prominent American harpists today. Principal Harpist with the San Diego Symphony since 2007, she is a two-time medalist in the USA International Harp Competition – Silver in 2004 and Bronze in 2001 – and her playing has been described as “precise” and “luminous” (American Record Guide) with “spectacular results” (San Diego Story). Active as a recitalist and chamber musician, Ms. Phillips is the founding member of The Myriad Trio and has been the opening recitalist and concerto soloist for multiple American Harp Society National Conferences, Lyon & Healy concert series and international harp festivals. In addition to her position in San Diego, she has participated in numerous music festivals, has held appointed principal positions with the Milwaukee Symphony and the New World Symphony, and has served as guest principal with the Dallas, Houston & St. Louis Symphony Orchestras. Ms. Phillips teaches privately and is the founder and director of the Nebraska Harp Workshop Retreat. Ms. Phillips has recorded two albums, The Rhapsodic Harp (solo harp) & The Eye of Night (with The Myriad Trio) both of which are available through online services.