Dr. Michael F. Murray

Biography

Michael Murray has been described as "a contemporary craftsman-artist of original stripe" whose music is "easy to listen to in the best possible way." His compositions cover a wide variety of styles and media, but his gift for lyricism is particularly well suited to acoustic music featuring the human voice. In addition to works for the concert hall, he has written music for film, theater productions, dance, and visual arts installations. His music is featured on the Navona and Ansonica record labels, and is published by Ars Nova Press.

Murray is a Hambidge Fellow and has also been artist in residence at Osage Arts Community. He 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 American Wild Ensemble, the Missouri Chamber Players, and the music fraternities of Missouri State University. He earned a BM in composition from the Catholic University of America and his MM and DMA in composition from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. Prior to coming to MSU, he taught at Loyola University New Orleans and Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas.

More info: michaelmurraymusic.com

Details

Education

• DMA, Composition, 1992, University of Cincinnati
• MM, Composition, 1989, University of Cincinnati
• BM, Composition, 1986, Catholic University of America

Teaching

• MUS 516, 517, 520, 521 (Composition I, II, III, IV)
• MUS 327 (Composition Class)
• MUS 103, 104, 203, 204 (Theory and Musicianship I, II, III, IV)
• MUS 313 (16th Century Counterpoint)
• MUS 314 (18th Century Counterpoint)
• MUS 727 (Seminar in Music Theory)
• MUS 728 (Pedagogy of Music Theory)

Professional experience

• PASSAGES, album of original compositions, Navona Records (NV6427), 2022
• PERCIPIENCE, album of original compositions, Navona Records (NV5994), 2015
• Society of Composers, Inc.
• College Music Society

Research and professional interests

• Music Composition
• Pedagogy of Music Theory

Awards and honors