Instrumental Music Director
Coeur d’Alene High School
5530 North Fourth Street
Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815
208-667-4507
Degrees and Certifications:
Bachelor of Arts in Music, Washington State University 1995; Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance, Washington State University 1995; Master of Arts in Music, Washington State University 1998; Idaho State Teaching Certificate; Air National Guard Academy of Military Science 1999; USAF Squadron Officer School 2003; USAF Air Command and Staff College 2015; Defense Information School Public Affairs Qualification Course 2015
Jim Phillips is a dedicated Music Educator who has been teaching at Coeur d'Alene High School since 1998. He leads several ensembles, including the Jazz Band, Chamber Orchestra, String Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and Marching/Pep Band, and also teaches a Beginning Guitar class. He has served as Chair of the CHS Fine Arts Department and is a frequent guest conductor, trumpet soloist, and clinician across the Northwest. Under his leadership, his ensembles have been invited to perform at prestigious events such as the Idaho All-State and NAfME All-Northwest Conventions.
Currently, Jim serves as President of the Idaho District 1 Music Educators and Chair of the District 1 Large Group Music Performance Assessment. He also organizes an annual Idaho Music Educators Association/Northwest Nazarene University Book Study for Music Teachers and chairs the IMEA All-State Orchestra. In recognition of his contributions to the arts community, he received the "Excellence in the Arts Award" from the Mayor of Coeur d'Alene in 2022.
In 2023, Jim was appointed to both the Teacher Advisory Council for the Idaho Humanities Council and the Curriculum Committee for Music Education with the Idaho State Board of Education. He has been listed multiple times in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers and has received the North Idaho Student Teacher Achievement Recognition award several times for his outstanding impact as an educator.
He attended Washington State University, where he studied with Gerald Webster and Dr. David Turnbull, earning a Master of Arts in Music, Bachelor of Arts in Music, Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance, and a K-12 Instrumental/Vocal Teaching Certificate. He performs regularly with the Coeur d’Alene Symphony (Principal Trumpet) and the Bob Curnow Big Band. He has also played with The Royal Fireworks Band, Spokane British Brass Band, Spokane Symphony, North Idaho College Jazz Band, North Idaho College Wind Symphony, Washington-Idaho Symphony, Spokane Civic Theater, Opera Coeur d'Alene, Coeur d'Alene Summer Theater, Northwest Sacred Music Chorale, Chorale Coeur d'Alene, the Spokane Jazz Orchestra and numerous Active Duty Air Force Bands and Air National Guard Bands. He has also taught trumpet lessons through North Idaho College, and maintains a private teaching studio.
During the summer of 1999, he attended the Academy of Military Science, where he received his commission as an officer in the Air National Guard. Major (retired) Phillips served as the Commander/Conductor of the Air National Guard Band of the Northwest (560th Air Force Band), Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington and served as a Staff Officer for the 141st Air Refueling Wing. He lives in Coeur d’Alene, ID with his wife, their four beautiful children, an ever-expanding flock of chickens and three very happy dogs.