Robert Murray

Robert Murray is the newly-appointed Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the University of Northern Colorado. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of North Texas, having studied with Keith Johnson. His previous degrees were earned through studies at the University of Washington and Portland State University, studying trumpet with Gerald Webster, Fred Sautter, and Roy Cummings. He previously served on the faculties of Murray State University and the University of North Texas.

Dr. Murray is first trumpet with the Rocky Mountain Brass Quintet and is a member of the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also served as Principal Trumpet with the Owensboro Symphony in the state of Kentucky, the Orquesta Sinfonica de Mineria in Mexico City, and the Portland Opera Orchestra. He was a member of the Dallas Brass and with that group performed solo engagements and appeared as guest artists with orchestras such as the Cincinnati Pops and Florida Philharmonic. His other performing experience includes regional orchestras throughout the Pacific Northwest and Texas, the Oregon Symphony, the Dallas Opera, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Mannheim Steamroller, the Moody Blues, Ice Capades, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Quincy Jones and the Lawrence Welk All-Stars. He has worked under the batons of James DePriest, Murry Sidlin, Doc Severinsen, Norman Leyden, Erich Kunzel, Peter Nero, Frederick Fennell and Eugene Corporon. He and his wife, Lauren, an oboist, perform together as the duo Harmonie del Sur, doing recitals and masterclasses at universities and schools throughout the United States.

Among Murray's other recent solo engagements are a solo performance with the Owensboro Symphony of Shostakovich's Concerto for Piano, Trumpet and Strings, a performance in Mexico City of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, the North American premier of Hans Henrik-Wehding's Konzert Musik for Trompete and Blasorchester with the Murray State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble. He is featured with the Owensboro Symphony on the just-released Albany recording "Orchestral Music of Arnold Rosner," performing with fellow OSO trumpeter Jonathan Martin the Concerto for Two Trumpets, Tympani and Strings. He can also be heard as a soloist on the Mark and Symphonic Discoveries labels.

Robert Murray's trumpet studios have established a reputation for excellence; his students have participated and competed successfully at the state, regional, national and international levels and most recently been honored with appearances as national finalists in the ensemble division at the National Trumpet Competition in Washington, D.C. and performances at the ITG Conference. Murray, a Bach/Selmer Artist Clinician, has received Distinguished Service Awards from the Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Florida and Minnesota Music Educators Associations.

WASBE conference 

Fuller, Murray and Redding at WASBE

Robert Murray appeared at the 2003 World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) Conference in Jonkoping, Sweden in July 2003 as a featured soloist and clinician. He performed Laurence Bitensky's Awake, You Sleepers! with the Nanset Wind Orchestra of Norway, conducted by Odd Terje Lysebo. Reviews included the following: "Dr. Murray gave a thoroughly convincing performance of an interesting work that explored the gamut of trumpet sounds." His masterclass presentation focused on ensemble intonation issues and also afforded the opportunity to work with students and professionals from around the world.

Two of Murray's students, Amy Fuller and Audrey Redding, were also in Sweden as part of the WASBE conference participating as members of the International Youth Wind Orchestra under the direction of Glenn Price. Amy and Audrey were among six university-level trumpet students chosen from around the world for this honor.

Website:
University of Northern Colorado School of Music
WASBE