Cynthia Phelps, born in 1961 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, is an American violist known for her career as a chamber musician, solo artist, and orchestral musician. She began her musical training on the violin at age four but switched to viola at eleven. Phelps studied with Sven Reher before earning her bachelor's degree from the USC Thornton School of Music in 1978 and her master's degree from the University of Michigan in 1984. Phelps was appointed as Principal Violist of the New York Philharmonic in 1992. She has performed as a soloist with orchestras worldwide, including the Minnesota Orchestra and the Hong Kong Philharmonic, and collaborated with ensembles such as the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Phelps is a recipient of the Pro Musicis International Award and has won top prizes at the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition and the Washington International String Competition.
