Sought after as a cellist because of her enthusiasm for contemporary music, Amy Phelps has pioneered many new works by Iowa composers and participated in multi-media productions. In 2007 she collaborated with composer Burton Beerman and choreographer Jennifer Kayle in A Still, Silent Voice for electric cello, computer, dancers and video installation. Ms. Phelps views her cello as a creative outlet and does not hesitate to utilize her instrument to raise money for various non-profit organizations; in 2004 her solo benefit recital “Cello and Chocolates” raised a considerable donation to build houses for women through Habitat for Humanity. More recently she performed for a fund-raiser for Rotary International for cleaner water in Africa.

Amy Phelps was born in Iowa City, Iowa. In 1989 she obtained a double-degree (B.A., B.M.) in Cello Performance and French Literature from Oberlin College and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. After her undergraduate education, Ms. Phelps’ multiple interests led her to continue her musical education in France, where she obtained unanimous Gold Medals in both cello performance and chamber music at the Conservatoire National de Région de Marseille in 1992. Ms. Phelps worked as a free-lance artist in Marseille for ten years where she frequently played with the Philharmonique de Marseille, was a founding member of the contemporary Ensemble Telemaque and performed with the baroque Ensemble Bezzozzi.

Amy Phelps has participated in numerous music festivals, such as Interlochen, Tanglewood, Aspen, Musicorda, the Lake District Music Festival (England) and Entrecasteaux (France).

In 2004 she earned a Masters in Music from the University of Iowa, studying with Anthony Arnone and Hannah Holman. She is currently finished with her coursework for her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Cello Performance at the University of Iowa, where she performed extensively with the Center for New Music and was appointed the Teaching Assistant for the cello studio. In addition to teaching at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Amy Phelps is Instructor of Cello at Bradley College in Peoria, Illinois.

Amy Phelps is a member of both the Cedar Rapids and Quad Cities Symphonies. She also performs regularly with the Cedar Rapids Opera and freelances throughout the Midwest. She lives in Iowa City with her son, Paul, and her dog, Rose.