Projects
Composing
Writing little songs as a child, Julia would record and play back and learn. When joining Fuse , the first arrangements were made and later on entire pieces. In 2019 Julia’s first big work, premiered: ‘Hommage a Enescu’. A full composition of about 18 minutes for string octet, with solo violin passages. The piece was broadcasted on Dutch National radio 4. From 2018 Julia is writing a lot for her duo with Xavi. In 2020 “Influent”, written for Fuse premiered at podium Witteman and in Het Concertgebouw (Amsterdam). The orchestral version of “Influent” premiered in aug 2021 at Festival Veenhuizen. The roots for her compositions lie in (Classical) chamber music, in which she makes space for improvisation.
In 2023 her composition “Secret garden” was released on Vinyl and cd as one of the 12 works commissioned by Fuse for their Mikrokosmos project.
In 2024 Somer commissioned Julia for her first orchestral work: Zielentocht. It was performed in november 2024 and will be performed again in summer ‘25.
Listen to the Enescu concert Radio 4 via this link
Guest Artist Performances
“One of the most beautiful things is to learn from people that are better than you”.
Philippens loves to play with different musicians in all kind of genres. Everybody has their speciality and you can learn from all of those specialists. “Music is good or bad. I never say “no” to a genre or style, " Julia says about her allround trackrecord.
Julia partook in recordings and tours for many musicians such as: Shakira, Justin Dicioccio, Kytemans orchestra, Herbert Grönemeyer, Ed Kowalczyk, Oliver Heldens, Marco Borsato, Moke, Laura Fygi, Wouter Hamel, Stochelo Rosenberg, Peter Beets, Michiel Borstlap and Benjamin Herman.
She played in halls like: Concertgebouw, Paradiso, Melkweg, Gelredome, Ahoy, Amsterdam Arena, (Holland) Sportpaleis (Belgium), Radialsystem, Funkhaus, (Germany) Dizzy's Jazzclub, Fat Cat, Mandarin Oriental (New York). And played for the dutch embassies in Riyadh, Damascus and Miami.
Fuse
An Unusual String Ensemble
During her studies Julia founded Fuse for which she plays, arranges and composes.
Fuse finds it’s origins as trailblazers of a new classical music movement in Amsterdam in 2012. Against the background of a crumbling cultural landscape, a group of like-minded music students start their own concerts series. For two years Fuse hosted monthly club-nights, which became an important kick-off for the young ensemble. Since 2015, Fuse is the house band on a Dutch TV-show about classical music and related genres, where they showcase their favorite music. It marked their breakthrough to the general public. The group appeared multiple times on Dutch daily talkshows and featured on public radio, in newspapers and magazines.
Some concert highlights are performances at The Concertgebouw, Wigmore Hall, Wonderfeel Festival and international showcase festivals SXSW and Eurosonic. In 2019 Fuse was awarded the Dutch Edison Public Choice Award.
The 2024 eclectic album Mikrokosmos sets a new mark for the group and was collaboratively created by Fuse and composers and songwriters such as Bryce Dessner (The National), Miho Hazama (M-Unit/Metropole Orchestra), Gabriel Kahane, Joey Roukens and Gabriella Smith among others (www.mikrokosmos.online)
More FUSE
Concerts Fuse 2025
26-06
Dargun (DE)
Kloster (Open-Air)
Festspiele MV
27-06
Bleckede (DE)
Schlosshof (Open-Air)
Festspiele MV
20-07
Schwerin (DE)
Marktplatz (Open-Air)
Festspiele MV
15-08
Veenhuizen
Festival Veenhuizen
Openingsconcert
16-08
Veenhuizen
Festival Veenhuizen
Koffie met Fuse e.a
28-08
Amsterdam
Concertgebouw
Zomerconcerten
26-09
Amersfoort
Flint
SeptemberMe
30-10
Raalte
Hof Theater
Wall of fuse
27-11
Haarlem
PHIL
Artist in residence
28-11
Groningen
Oosterpoort
Artist in residence
4-12
Tiel
Agnietenhof
Wall of Fuse
13-12
Beekbergen
Oude kerk
Kerstconcert
04-01
Heerlen
PLT
Nieuwjaarsconcert
05-01
Amsterdam
De Kleine Komedie
Nieuwjaarsconcert
Soloist Bigband
Julia’s first experience playing solo with an orchestra or big band was with at the music conservatory of Amsterdam with a Jazz Philharmonic conducted by Justin DiCiccio, they recorded a program called “Night Scream” with compositions of Duke Ellington. Julia leaded the strings and played features as a soloist. After this amazing experience this became one of her favorite things to do.
Last years she was invited by Zurich Jazz Orchestra, Jazzorchestra of the Concertgebouw (with Fuse), Konrad Kosseleck Big Band, Laundry Bigband, Philharmonic Sudwestfalen a.o.
