Donna Phillips

Donna R. Phillips is the Coordinator of Music programs at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill Kentucky and Director of Music for The Pleasant Hill Singers choral ensemble. Donna also serves as the Children’s Choir Director and the Adult Handbell Choir Director at Second Presbyterian Church in Lexington, Kentucky. A native Kentuckian, Donna graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BM in Music Education and a BA in Music Performance. She has won several awards in music performance, including the Presidential Academic Achievement Award for Music Performance, and the McCracken Award for Music Performance. As a performer and public speaker Donna has given concerts on Shaker Music and worship, lectures on Shaker Music and Theology and Shaker music workshops for children and adults.

In addition to her work in Shaker music studies, Donna is a composer and Playwright. Her choral and art song compositions are mostly Negro spirituals, Shaker songs, Children’s choir and handbell compositions. In 2008, Donna and writing Partner Georgana Riddell received a commission from Jessamine County and the Camp Nelson Foundation supported by a grant from the Kentucky Arts Council to write the historical drama, Blow Ye the Trumpet Blow! The play successfully debuted to sold out audiences and rave reviews in 2010. Donna also won the Kentucky Theatre Association’s Roots of the Bluegrass Playwriting competition in 2011 for her play SUMBAHDEE. Donna currently serves on the board of the Kentucky Playwrights Workshop and is a member of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians.