Hirsch, a multi-instrumentalist, who plays 5-string banjo, synthesizers and percussion primarily sees himself as a composer, arranger, orchestrator and producer. The first album by Phil's Harmonic Orchestra is "Sweet Coralia" on Clubhouse Records. The recording mixes unusual combinations of sounds and instruments, most notably trumpet and banjo together. Reflecting Hirsch's long and varied career, the music contains elements of folk, pop, jazz, new age and avant-garde experimentation.

"The name Phil's Harmonic Orchestra came about, because the structure of the group is most similar to a classical orchestra. The players must be talented, but the direction and conducting some from me. I experimented with various instruments and then brought in top musicians to play specific parts which might range from exact notes I write to a fifty-fifty collaboration (as in the case of trumpet player Mario Guarneri)." In addition to Guarneri (San Francisco Opera, Star Wars Orchestra), other members of the Phil's Harmonic Orchestra are: bassist Vail Johnson (Kenny G), pedal steel guitarist "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow (John Lennon, Leonard Cohen, Linda Ronstadt), percussionist Jeff Forehan (Prince, Bananarama), acoustic guitarist Terry Keady (Felix Culpa) and electric guitarist Keith Allen (Steve Miller). Hirsch co-produced with Jane Clark, who also engineered the album and whose previous engineering and mixing credits include Lionel Richie, The Commodores and Jermaine Jackson.

"This album is an attempt to return to the creative freedom of the late Sixties when an 'anything goes' attitude entered the world of pop music and brought forth some very innovative sounds. No one told The Beatles they couldn't put a piccolo trumpet on 'Penny Lane'," states Hirsch. "I look at my music as 'new pop.' Pop music is always evolving and we may find that melodic instrumental music becomes very, very popular from now into the next century."