Paul Phillips Collection (Houston Balalaika Society)

Houston Balalaika Society: The Houston Balalaika Society Orchestra is a non-profit organization dedicated to the performance and preservation of traditional Russian and Eastern European music. Since 1976, HBSO has brought the fire and grace of this unique music to audiences through-out Houston and the surrounding area.

HBSO is a community orchestra and welcomes new members from any musical background. We have instruments and instruction available for Domra or Balalaika, and also accept instruments accepted are Violin, Accordion, Percussion and Woodwinds.

Paul Edward Phillips (1938-2010) was born in Dallas, TX, and grew up in Abilene TX. He earned a B.A. from Abilene Christian College and a Masters in Microbiology from the University of Texas at Galveston. In 1967 he moved with his family to Clear Lake City where he worked as a microbiologist for NASA on the Apollo missions, and later worked at the Texas Medical Center in pharmacology. Phillips was at heart a musician, and taught himself to play the balalaika, folk guitar, harmonica, and banjo. He became an enthusiast for Russian and Ukrainian folk music and became a founder and the artistic director of the Houston Balalaika Society and a member of the Balalaika and Domra Association of America. He also presented shows of gypsy music at the Texas Renaissance Festival from its opening in 1974 until the late 1980's.