Colleen Phillips

While it might be old hat to say, “music brings people together,” Colleen Phillips knows music also has the power to keep people together. She loves to remember musical experiences she’s had with countless people in her life, allowing a simple melody to bring back a flood of memories of who she was with at the time and how she felt. A Fort Wayne native, Colleen first picked up a violin bow when she was three years old, spending the next four decades honing and perfecting her craft. Colleen attended Ball State University and graduated with a degree in Music Education and a minor in Vocal Performance. You’ll find Colleen performing with various area symphonies as well as with Jen and the Foggy Creek. Colleen and her musical siblings also frequently reunite to perform at weddings. Colleen has taught band and orchestra with Fort Wayne Community Schools for more than 20 years. During that time, she helped two area schools achieve ISSMA All Around Orchestra Awards. She was a finalist for Teacher of the Year in 2022, the only middle school teacher that year to make the finals. Colleen, along with her supportive spouse Brad, now encourage their daughter Evelyn to pursue her musical dreams as a member of the Fort Wayne Children’s choir.