Reviewers have described composer Michael Murray as “a contemporary craftsman-artist of original stripe” (Gappelgate), and “a master at writing for the human voice” (Music & Vision), 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. Much of his work involves setting words of classic poets to new music for singers accompanied by various instrumental combinations. Recent performances of his music include the 2023 SCI (Society of Composers, Inc.) Region VIII Conference, 2021 “Missouri Music at 200” series, 2020 SCI Region VI Conference, 2019 College Music Society National Conference, and the 28th Annual Havana Contemporary Music Festival.
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. He lives in Springfield, Missouri, where he is Professor of Music at Missouri State University.
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.