Faculty

Phillip Helm earned his Bachelor of Music from West Texas A&M University where he studied with David Murray. He also attended the Manhattan School of Music college and pre-college divisions, where he studied with Linda McKnight. As a student, Phillip spent his summers studying with Gary Karr on Vancouver Island in Canada. He received additional summer training performing with the Bard College Conductors Institute Orchestra and with the Tanglewood Festival Orchestra. Phillip has also studied with Paul Bresciani, John Feeney, and Leigh Mesh.

Phillip is a member of the West Point Band where he performs with the Concert Band. He is also the principal bass of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, the assistant principal of the Grammy Award-winning Albany Symphony Orchestra and performs as Acting Principal with the New Jersey Festival Orchestra.

He performs regularly with the Berkshire Bach Society, Camerata Chamber Players, Downtown Sinfonietta Chamber players, Kairos: A Consort of Singers, Maverick Chamber Players, Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice, and the new music groups Dogs of Desire and Pone Ensemble. He is also a member of the alternative bluegrass band Uncommon Ground.

Phillip has played as first-call substitute with the Buffalo and Rochester Philharmonics, the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players, and the Syracuse Symphony. He has also played with the New York Philharmonic, the New Jersey Symphony, the Binghamton Philharmonic, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, the Amarillo Symphony, and the Key West Symphony.

His extensive commercial and orchestral work has included playing with such notable performers as Clay Aiken, Joshua Bell, Michael Bolton, Cirque Du Soleil, Placido Domingo, Josh Groban, the Irish Tenors, Olivia Newton John, Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Bette Midler, Natalie Merchant, Luciano Pavarotti, Kenny Rogers, Sponge Bob the Musical and the Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience Tour.

Phillip has taught at SUNY New Paltz, Bard College, and the Stringendo Music School. He has also been the bass coach with the Empire State and Hudson Valley Youth Orchestras and has presented master classes at the Hartt School of Music. He currently teaches at Vassar College.