Joe Phillips is a London, Ontario-based musician whose work spans classical, early music, folk, and contemporary traditions. Comfortable on double bass, violone, guitar, and viola da gamba, he performs regularly with a wide range of ensembles and artists, bringing a historically informed approach, strong ensemble skills, and musical versatility to repertoire from the Renaissance to the present day.

As an early music specialist, Joseph collaborates frequently with leading Canadian ensembles including Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Accademia de’ Dissonanti, the Theatre of Early Music, and Aradia Ensemble, appearing in chamber, orchestral, and vocal-instrumental projects across North America. His work as a continuo player has led to collaborations with numerous singers, instrumentalists, and directors in repertoire spanning more than four centuries.

Alongside his work in historical performance, Joseph is active across a broad musical spectrum. He performs with Jayme Stone’s Folklife, accompanies Canadian fiddler Shane Cook, plays bass and sings tenor harmonies with the Claire Lynch Band, and performs with Payadora Tango Ensemble. He has also collaborated with Irish-American multi-instrumentalist Seamus Egan and appears with Toronto’s Art of Time Ensemble. As a classical musician, he serves as principal bass of London Symphonia and regularly performs with chamber musicians and orchestras throughout Canada.

His appearances have taken him to festivals and concert series including Celtic Connections in Glasgow, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Scotia Festival of Music, and the Savannah Music Festival. Equally at home in concert halls, theatres, and folk festival settings, he enjoys exploring connections between musical traditions and working with artists from diverse backgrounds.

Joseph teaches bass at Western University’s Don Wright Faculty of Music and is a longtime faculty member at Algoma Trad Camp on St. Joseph Island, Ontario. When not performing or teaching, he lives in London with his partner and their two children.