Obituary: Paul Phillips, Longtime Violinist at Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 77

In Thursday’s (4/25) Chicago Tribune, Bob Goldsborough writes, “Paul Phillips was a violinist with Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 40 years, performing under acclaimed music directors Georg Solti, Daniel Barenboim and Riccardo Muti. ‘He was a truly dedicated violinist, and it was a privilege to be one of his (violin) stand partners for 40 years,’ said Blair Milton, a retired member of the CSO’s first violin section…. Phillips, 77, died of complications from brain cancer March 27, said his husband, Lloyd Palmiter…. Born and raised in Canton, Ohio, Phillips was 4 years old when he was given a violin by his father … He took lessons and performed in the Canton Youth Symphony … After high school, Phillips moved to Cleveland, where he studied violin and chamber music at the Cleveland Institute of Music … In 1968 he became a member of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. In 1972, Phillips took a position with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Eight years later, … he auditioned for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra … and was invited by Solti to join the CSO’s second violin section … Phillips [moved] to the orchestra’s first violin section in 1988…. Phillips retired from the CSO in 2020. In addition to his husband, Phillips is survived by a sister.”