Humble Heroes: Julia Philippens

Meet humble hero and the amazing Dutch violinist Julia Philippens. Julia studied violin at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. After her Jazz Bachelor she graduated her Jazz Master Summa Cum Laude. The committee described her as a “unique, pioneering violinist with a radiant stage presence.”

Julia is an extraordinary, groundbreaking and experimental violinist, composer and overall musician. She believes in experiencing the music by improvising and combine different styles within improvisation. “Allowing yourself to get to know your own voice, translate voices of others into music and communicate.” Julia co-founded the ensemble Fuse during her studies for which she plays, arranges and composes. They are the houseband of TV show ‘Podium Witteman’ and were nominated for an Edison award in 2019. They won the ‘Edison Klassiek Publieksprijs’.

Julia was invited to play with formations such as the Konrad Koselleck Bigband, Philharmonic Sudwestfalen, Noord Nederlands Orkest, Laundry Bigband and the Zurich Jazz Orchestra. She has recorded and performed with Justin Dicioccio, Ed Kowalczyk, Herbert Grönemeyer, Benjamin Herman, the Rosenberg trio, Ramon Valle, Michael Borstlap, Didier Lockwood, Ruud Jacobs, Peter Beets and Shakira.

For this project the duo Julia Philippens and Ramón Valle came together and agreed that this project is a meeting between two artists who use their instruments as an extension of their bodies. Composing on the spot, this duo wanted to give themselves the freedom to express, create and compose within the moment. The greatest challenge regarding this experiment is the confrontation with themselves. They are the intermediaries and observers in real time. They want to share this experience with everyone that is curious and willing to join their journey. We hope you enjoy this session!