The Mormon Tabernacle Choir announced March 27 that Ryan T. Murphy has been named the organization's associate music director. He will assume the position formerly occupied by Mack J. Wilberg, who was appointed music director in March 2008. The appointment concludes a worldwide search that began in August 2008 and culminated with experience conducting both the choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square.
Brother Murphy has extensive choral conducting and professional musical theater experience. He currently conducts six choirs in the Boston, Mass., area, including two choirs at the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music. He serves as the choral director at the Walnut Hill School for the Arts, an internationally recognized secondary school affiliated with the New England Conservatory. He has served as the music director for the Tuacahn Theatre in the St. George, Utah, area, and prior to that as the music director for five seasons at the Sundance Institute near Provo. He has maintained an active performing schedule including recent collaborations at the Tanglewood Summer Festival outside of Boston.
Speaking about his appointment, he said, "It is a dream come true to work with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and to be associated with the caliber of musicians here serving the Church. It will be an honor to assist Dr. Mack Wilberg and I look forward to working with him to touch the hearts of a wide variety of people, cultures, ages and beliefs."
Brother Wilberg, music director of the choir, looks forward to having Brother Murphy join the artistic staff on Temple Square. "We are extremely pleased to have Ryan join us in working with the choir and the orchestra. He is a very talented and well-rounded musician with a breadth of experience. His energy and enthusiasm will contribute to the work we are doing to fulfill the mission of the Choir in our concerts, broadcasts and recordings."
Brother Murphy graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in piano and organ performance and pedagogy. He also has a master's degree in choral conducting from Brigham Young University and will receive his doctorate in choral conducting from Boston University in May of this year. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children and reside in Belmont, Mass. Brother Murphy plans to begin his duties on Temple Square this summer after concluding his responsibilities in Boston.
