Phyllis Long has been a member of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra since 1977. She is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music with a BM in cello performance and a concentration in chamber music. She earned her MM in cello performance with a concentration in pedagogy from Memphis State University (now University of Memphis). Phyllis is a member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 71, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) and the Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA). The things she enjoys most about being in the Memphis Symphony are the sound of the orchestra and allowing people to enjoy themselves and expand their horizons.

The daughter of an intelligence officer, Phyllis was born in Frankfurt Germany, where her family lived on the U.S. Airforce Base. Her family moved many times; they lived in Waco and Austin (Texas), Ankara (Turkey), California, Oklahoma, and Nebraska.

Phyllis began playing cello at the age of 10 at the Junior String Project at UT Austin, which was started by Phyllis Young. Though she was interested in studying viola or harp, Phyllis' father decided she should play the cello. She played in school orchestras from sixth grade through college, and was a member of the Lincoln (Nebraska) Youth Symphony Orchestra, where she played a Bruckner Symphony on her very first concert. "What a way to begin!" recalls Phyllis. She went on to win several

In elementary school, Phyllis' favorite subjects were reading and social studies. Later, she enjoyed English, literature, history, physiology, biology, chemistry, and philisophy. Her involvement with Girl Scouts fostered her love of cooking, camping and horseback riding. Phyllis, who volunteered as a candy striper at a hospital in junior high and high school, thought that she would either be a cellist or a doctor.

Phyllis' many pets include her cats, Molly and Leo. She also has an aquarium with her fish, Rummy-Nose 1 and 2, Otto, Headlight-Taillight, Harlequin 1 and 2, Neons C and D and Blackens A and B.

have gardens full of flowers and has several bird feeding stations in her yard, including one for hummingbirds. Phyllis is a reading tutor at Orleans school and is a volunteer at the Global Goods store at 1st Congreational Church. If she had the time, she'd love to swim every day.

Phyllis loves working with kids and teaches many students in her private studio. Along the way, she has also worked as a music typesetter and bookkeeper/ manager for Ivory Palaces Music Publishing Company.