Harpist extraordinaire, Phyllis Taylor Sparks is a dynamic live performer, savvy composer, prolific recording artist, and in-demand session player. Unlike some musicians, Phyllis is not limited to a single genre of music, and her repertoire reflects that.
Equally at home playing light jazz, pop standards, Celtic music or one of her original compositions, Phyllis is broadening musical horizons. She records solo harp or with her band “The Dream Machine” for the Voyager Records label. By using harp as a lead instrument accompanied by upright bass and soprano saxophone, the group performs standards such as All Of Me, Unforgettable, Nearness Of You, and Spanish Eyes. The unique instrumentation brings added dimension by performing New Age, Celtic, and Original music. Phyllis’s bright lyrical compositions sparkle and already are garnering excitement and further accolades with worldwide distribution and U.S. radio airplay. With such a universal repertoire, Phyllis has proven that indeed she can do anything as she stretches the boundaries of harp music as effortlessly as she stretches the strings of her harp. Ms Sparks holds Master and Bachelor Degrees in Music Performance from theUniversity of Michigan. Phyllis is a former member of the famous Mantovani Orchestra. She has worked as both a solo artist and accompanist for many notable artists such as Josh Groban, Natalie Cole, and Ray Charles. Her recordings have received airplay on radio stations around the U.S. and Canada. She currently plays with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra and records with the Nashville String Machine. Ms. Sparks played with the Nashville Symphony in Carnegie Hall and for the Amy Grant Christmas Tour in 2001. Phyllis’s CD’s on Voyager Records are Heart Strings, I Remember You, Celtic Harp Sparks!, Harp For Christmas, Harp Horizons, and Accents For Solo Harp.
