In Part 2 of the interview, Professor Phillips discussed his West Indies upbringing and his unlikely path to opera. You can watch the entire video podcast on YouTube at https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc83Bpg8hEEHuEXWk7qIJm2SbUMbww74j

From an aspiring poet to an established physicist who advised the President on science policies, to an award winning opera singer, Philip Phillips embodies how true success incorporates passion.

00:20 West Indian parents are very focused on education

07:53 You sing the opera. How did that come about?

10:00 I had never sung until 7 years ago

10:44 I don’t shy away from a challenge. Prior experience is not something that I necessarily view as a must before I try something

12:46 When I was in college, these things you do that you just never think about ended up being important in the end

26:14 Opera is just another avenue for exploring how contorted human emotions can be

26:30 Watch Philip Phillips sing an aria

ABOUT SCIENCE, MUSIC, AND SOCIETY PODCAST
A show that explores the intersection of science and music and their benefits to society through personal stories of scientists and musicians.

ABOUT SOPHIA SI
A rising high school senior in Houston, TX, who grew up playing the piano and loving science.

ABOUT PHILIP PHILLIPS
An established professor in the Department of Physics at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (https://physics.illinois.edu/people/directory/profile/dimer and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Phillips_(physicist)) and opera singer who garnered top prizes (1st Place, 2020 National Association Teachers of Singing (NATS), 2nd Place, 2022 American Prize in Vocal Performance http://theamericanprize.blogspot.com/2022/05/national-winners-men-in-opera-and-art.html). His performances can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDZpnXiuFA0 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSN05n8j09E.

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