Ryan Murphy
Ryan T. Murphy (born 1971), a native of Newtown, Connecticut, has been the associate music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir since 27 March 2009, working with music director Mack Wilberg. He is an alumni of Brigham Young University (BYU) where he earned bachelor’s (1997) and master’s degrees (2002). While he was a student at BYU he served as an assistant to then BYU professor Wilburg. He received a doctorate in choral conducting from Boston University in 2009 which open the doors for opportunities to conduct in several local venues.
Murphy has a diverse musical background. By the age of 5 he was playing the piano. He was a member of a boys’ choir, conducted his high school choir, played the role of Danny Zuko in “Grease,” and was a keyboardist for the band The Current which performed Led Zeppelin covers. In an interview for the Taunton Daily Gazette, he commented:
I was the music director at St. Malachy Parish in Burlington. I taught and had a choir at Walnut Hill School [for the Performing Arts] in Natick, and I did two choirs for New England Conservatory Preparatory School.
Murphy has also been music director at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre and Center for the Arts and the Sundance Institute in Provo. Among his responsibilities are assisting Mack Wilberg with the Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square in rehearsals, concerts, tours, and the weekly broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word. He also helps to produce recording sessions (they just finished a recording of Handel’s “Messiah”), and serves as the conductor of the Temple Square Chorale, the preparatory ensemble for new singers in Choir service. When Murphy isn’t working with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, he teams up with his wife, Jennifer, and directs the choir at a local elementary school.
Follow Ryan Murphy
Recent Posts
Two Gifted Teens – Reese Oliveira and Easton Shane – Release Magnificent Cover of “Hallelujah”
There is perhaps nothing more wonderful and amazing then to see a person using their God-given talents and abilities to be a light to the world and to bring praise and honor to Him who is the Giver of the gifts that they have been given. Such is the case of two...
The Debra Bonner Unity Gospel Choir Will Perform at the NAACP 109th Annual Convention
The Debra Bonner Unity Gospel Choir (formerly the Genesis Gospel Choir), is a multicultural group comprised of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their unique style of music sets them apart from traditional LDS choirs in that the group...
Alex Boyé Named Refugee Ambassador for Utah – How You Can Help
Alex Boyé is a world-renowned British-American musician, actor, and entertainer. He is a former member of and continues to perform with the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir on different occasions. He was also a contestant on NBC’s America’s Got Talent. On 5 April...
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Blend Their Voices to Build Musical Bridges of Understanding and Unity
The American singer-songwriter, Henry John Deutschendorf Jr., known professionally as John Denver, said, “Music does bring people together. It allows us to experience the same emotions. People everywhere are the same in heart and spirit. No matter what language we...
Mormon Music’s Social Media Septet
Did you know that besides the main website, Latter-day Saint Musicians also has seven social media channels where you can find articles about some of your favorite Mormon music artists, as well as, some of their music videos and audio tracks? Mormon music can be found...
Garth Smith Provides A Memorable Music Experience for Deaf Member
Christine Petrolati, a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, lost her hearing from scarlet fever when she was 12 years old. She attends the Vista 8th Ward in California where Garth W. Smith, an LDS musician/pianist who specializes in original...