David Murphy (conductor)

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Born in Wales, David Murphy began his musical studies as a violinist, as a result of free instrumental lessons at his local school. Within a few months of study he had won a local music competition and was subsequently awarded a full scholarship to the renowned specialist school, the Purcell School.

David went on to win a host of competitions and prizes whilst at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where he studied violin, viola and chamber music with members of the Amadeus Quartet. During this time, David performed as soloist and chamber musician throughout Britain and Europe.

His conducting debut occurred at a moment’s notice: a conductor was suddenly indisposed and David was the only member of the orchestra with a baton in his case. The experience was a revelation and prompted the decision to undertake serious conducting study. A Welsh Arts Council Scholarship for Advanced Studies in Music followed, which enabled him to study conducting in the United States.

He completed his studies with Leon Barzin in Paris. David had the great privilege to be Barzin’s last student, living and studying intensively with him during the summers Barzin spent in Europe from 1993 until his death in 1999. Through this relationship he is fortunate enough to have a direct link to the great conductors of the early Twentieth Century, notably both Toscanini and Furtwängler: a unique training for a conductor of his generation.

Two other legendary mentors were subsequently central to his development as a musician: the conductor Sir Charles Mackerras and the sitar maestro and composer Pandit Ravi Shankar. David’s music making contains a unique blend of these very potent influences: from Barzin the musical philosophy and techniques of the "golden age" of conducting, from Sir Charles Mackerras cutting-edge interpretation and scholarship, and from Pandit Ravi Shankar the advanced musical techniques, spontaneous creativity and spiritual perspective of Indian music.

David’s studies and performances with Ravi Shankar, plus work with other leading Indian musicians have resulted in several world premieres. Supported by Arts Council England, he is currently at the forefront of the development of a new musical genre which aims to tap into the common roots of both Indian and Western music. This quest has formed the foundation of his music-making and conducting of the Western Orchestral repertoire–an added dimension noted by audiences and orchestras worldwide (pitch, rhythm, improvisatory quality, spiritual perspective).

An experienced musical director, he is Founder and Artistic Director of Sinfonia Verdi. With Sinfonia Verdi and as a guest conductor he has been very active in bringing music to new audiences and to young people. He has also brought live music to the corporate sector with his Orchestrating Success Seminars. These popular seminars explore universal issues of leadership and teamwork through the dynamics of orchestral rehearsal and performance. From his unique position, straddling the worlds of both Eastern and Western music, he has recently explored issues of globalization and cultural understanding in these events.

Future plans involving cross-cultural collaboration include concerts with the SCO, LPO, Sinfonia Viva and the London Sinfonietta and upcoming premieres include Samagam by the Sarod legend Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. Also featuring cellist Matthew Barley, Samagam will mark David’s debut with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and at the City of London and St Magnus Festivals. This is followed by concerts in Edinburgh and Glasgow and by a major tour of India in February 09 juxtaposing Samagam with music by Beethoven and Mozart.

His next Royal Festival Hall concert will also contain an important premiere and mark his debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. This programme will feature the world premiere of a symphony by Ravi Shankar alongside works by other composers Shankar has profoundly influenced, including Philip Glass and John Adams.

A popular guest-conductor, David has performed on four continents. His debut in South Africa was televised on SABC, and this has led to a series of engagements with the South African Orchestras, from Beethoven Symphonies with the Johannesburg and Kwa-Zulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestras to outreach work with children and choirs from the Townships. He recently conducted a highly successful run of Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte at the Longborough Festival, and made his Far-Eastern debut, performing Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Seoul National Symphony Orchestra, in a performance that was broadcast on both Korean and Japanese television. Last year he toured Russia and Poland conducting the London Chamber Players in sell out concerts in St Petersburg Conservatoire, Tchaikovsky Hall, and the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatoire and, at the climax of a recent Spanish tour at the Auditorio Nacionale in Madrid. His critically acclaimed Royal Festival Hall debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra included Janáček’s Sinfonietta and Sibelius 2nd Symphony.

David was recently elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

[edit] Accolades

“One of the most interesting musical minds of any of the younger generation of conductors, plus an impeccable baton technique”. Sir Charles Mackerras
“One of the most talented conductors I have ever worked with, he has the passion, intellect and artistic ability to take the lead of an orchestra and bring it to great heights. David Murphy is on his way to becoming one of the most important conductors of our time”. Leon Barzin
“A wonderful conductor” Ravi Shankar