Thee Phantom
Fronted by husband-and-wife duo Thee Phantom and Phoenix, The Illharmonic Orchestra combines the raw passion and energy of hip-hop with the beautiful, sweeping sounds of live orchestral accompaniment. For their Recomposing America project, ACF has commissioned a new hip-hip orchestra piece from Thee Phantom titled Maniac Maestro. The piece finds Thee Phantom caught between two musical worlds — part Rachmaninoff, part Rakim; part Mozart, part Mos Def. Classical grandeur meets hip-hop grit in a tug of war between the Maestro and the MC.
About Thee Phantom
Thee Phantom, born Jeffrey McNeill, wrote his first rhyme at the age of 8 and made his first beat by mixing the instrumental tracks from the Beastie Boys’ “Paul Revere” with Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony at age 12. In 2002, Phantom became the first hip-hop artist to perform at Philadelphia’s prestigious Kimmel Center with musical accompaniment from members of the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. He and his wife formed The Illharmonic Orchestra and have toured the U.S., Canada, and Japan, performing in such hallowed venues as Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, The Apollo, Kimmel Center, Auditorium Theatre, Benaroya Hall, and Wolf Trap Amphitheater.
About The Illharmonic Orchestra
The Illharmonic Orchestra combines the raw passion and energy of hip-hop with the beautiful, sweeping sounds of live orchestral accompaniment. Fronted by husband-and-wife duo Thee Phantom and Phoenix, the ensemble has earned national attention for its electrifying performances and viral online presence.
American Composers Forum’s ACF | connect program is made possible with the outstanding generosity of the following individuals: Jane Anfinson, Thomas Arneson, Suzanne Asher, Carol Barnett, Pearl and Bob Bergad, Margee and Will Bracken, Karen Brooks, Richard Cisek and Kay Fredericks, Dee Ann and Kent Crossley, Julia W. Dayton, C. Lee Essrig, Rosemary & David Good Family Foundation, Katherine Goodale, Jeff and Hyun Mee Graves, Carol Heen, Steve Heitzeg and Gwen Pappas, Kathleen Henschel and John Dewes, Linda and Jack Hoeschler, Leaetta Hough and Bob Muschewske, Sam Hsu and Sally Cheng, Hella Mears Hueg Estate Gift, Thelma Hunter Estate Gift, John and Ruth Huss, George Frederick Jewett Foundation East, Art and Martha Kaemmer, Jon Lewis and Lisa Merklin, Mike and Kay McCarthy, Greg McNeely, Alfred and Ann Moore, Louis and Gloria Nuechterlein, John Nuechterlein and Dan Monson, John and Debbie Orenstein, I.A. O’Shaughnessy Foundation in memory of Thelma Hunter, David and Judy Ranheim, Denice Rippentrop, Vanessa Rose, Bill and Susan Sands, Gale Sharpe, Doug and Kathy Skor, Dan and Ellie Thomas, Stephen and Jayne Usery, Kathleen van Bergen, Janika Vandervelde, Jim Wafler, and Margaret and Angus Wurtele.