Michael went into the studio with PARMA this July to record his "Four Songs of Solomon" with the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra and tenor Andrew Childs. Hot off the heels of his last session, Murray will be returning to the PARMA Music Festival for a performance and studio recording of "Neutral Tones" with Peter Sulski (viola) and Chris Thompson (baritone).
Originally from suburban Maryland, Murray currently lives in Springfield, MO, where he teaches composition and music theory at Missouri State University. Murray earned a B.M in Composition from the Catholic University of America and his M.M. and D.M.A. in composition from the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music. Before MSU, he taught at Loyola University (New Orleans) and Angelo State University in San Angelo, TX.
Murray has won awards and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, Pi Kappa Lambda, and the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs. Among his commissions are those from the Missouri Chamber Players, 13th Street Gallery (Omaha), and the music fraternities of Missouri State University. In addition to works for the concert hall, he has written music for film, theater productions, dance, and visual arts installations. His mucis is published by Ars Nova Press.
Murray's "Neutral Tones" will be performed on August 13th during the afternoon C-Span concert. Below, hear an excerpt of "Tempest Fantasy" from Murray's PARMA debut, SPELLBOUND.
