Ken Murray
Guitarist | Composer | Teacher
Image: Pia Johnson
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Ken Murray has developed a singular path as a guitarist combining performance, composition, teaching and research. He has championed and recorded Spanish music from the early twentieth century, worked extensively with contemporary composers and has been active as a performer of Brazilian and South American musical styles. As a composer he has written a variety of works for guitar in solo and ensemble settings.
Murray has a strong commitment to performing contemporary music and has performed in premiere performances of over 100 works. An integral part of his activities has been working with Australian composers. He enjoys ongoing collaborations with composers who have written for him works for solo guitar, electric guitar and CD, electric guitar and ensemble, guitar and voice, large chamber works and music theatre pieces featuring guitar. His CDs and concerts have been broadcast on ABC FM and he has performed on the Austrian label Kairos (Italy), Mode Records (USA), Move, Tall Poppies and ABC Classics.
He performs internationally with Ensemble Three with Joel Brennan (trumpet) and Don Immel (trombone). Through their performances in Australia and overseas, a dedication to commissioning new works, and an ever-expanding catalogue of recordings, Ensemble Three has established itself as “an inspiring example of forward-thinking classical music culture in Australia” (CutCommon).
Murray graduated PhD from the University of Melbourne, where he is Associate Professor and Head of Guitar at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.
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Contact -
ken_murray@netspace.net.au