Michael Murray

The music of composer Michael Murray (b. 1964) has been described as “well crafted,” “expertly and adroitly handled,” and consisting of “pleasing washes of sounds and tone colors.” Reviewers have praised his writing for voice as “excellent,” “lovely,” and “a gift to singers.” In addition to works for the concert hall, he has written music for film, theater productions, dance, and visual arts installations. He currently lives in Springfield, Missouri, where he teaches composition and music theory at Missouri State University.

Murray has won awards and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs. His music has been performed and recorded across the United States and Europe, featured in venues in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Poland, the Czech Republic, and over 20 different states and the District of Columbia. Incidental music and sound design Murray composed for Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice was featured in the International Prague Quadrennial Scenofest exhibition of theater design. Among his commissions are those from the Missouri Chamber Players and the music fraternities of Missouri State University. He earned his 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 in New Orleans and Angelo State University (Texas). His music is published by Ars Nova Press.