A clarinetist in the Grammy-Award-winning Metropolitan Opera Orchestra since 2001, Jessica Phillips is an accomplished performer, dedicated educator, and innovative leader. Her focus is on the transformative power of collaboration and communication to forge meaningful change in the arts industry.
Jessica is passionate about educating and equipping the next generation of musicians and has a longstanding history of advocacy in the arts. She teaches clarinet at Juilliard’s Music Advancement Program and serves on their Graduate Studies faculty, specializing in Career Essentials and Entrepreneurship. Additionally, she has served on the Executive Board of New York City’s Local 802 American Federation of Musicians (AFM), the Governing Board of the International Conference of Symphonic and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) and continues to serve on the board of The Field.
Frequently asked to consult on organization and culture change, Jessica is also a sought-after speaker at national conferences and professional development programs, including Sphinx Connect, Lincoln Center’s Curriculum for Change, OPERA America, the League's Essentials of Orchestra Management program, and the International Conference of Symphonic and Opera Musicians (ICSOM). In 2024, she served on the AFM National Steering Committee responsible for negotiations with the American Motion Picture & Television Producers (AMPTP). She has led two collective bargaining contract negotiations at the Metropolitan Opera, resulting in creative and often paradigm-shifting solutions to intricate organizational and financial challenges.
Her performance credits include the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Santa Fe Opera, and summer music festivals such as the Verbier Festival in Switzerland, the Pacific Music Festival in Japan, and Festival Napa Valley. As a Backun Artist, she has consulted on the design of E-flat clarinet products and co-produced widely viewed educational YouTube videos, some of which have garnered over 35,000 views.
Jessica holds an MBA in Arts Innovation & Entrepreneurship from the Global Leaders Institute and graduated cum laude from Barnard College, Columbia University, with a BA in Political Science and Music. She holds certificates in Nonprofit Arts Management from NYU, Labor Relations from Cornell, and Negotiation and Leadership & Difficult Conversations from Harvard Law School’s Program on Negotiation.
For more info, visit: www.jessicaphillipsclari.net