Ryan Murphy was appointed associate music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on 27 March 2009. As associate music director, Murphy is responsible to assist Dr. Mack Wilberg, music director, with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square in rehearsals, concerts, tours and the weekly broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word. He also serves as the conductor of the Temple Square Chorale, the preparatory ensemble for new singers in choir service.
Murphy has extensive choral conducting and professional musical theater experience. Prior to his appointment, he conducted six choirs in the Boston area, including two choirs at the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music. He served for four years as the choral director at the Walnut Hill School for the Arts, an internationally recognized secondary school affiliated with the New England Conservatory. He was the music director for the Tuacahn theatre in the St. George, Utah area from 2005 to 2007 following five seasons as music director at the Sundance Institute in Provo, Utah. While in Boston, he maintained an active performing schedule including collaborations at the Tanglewood Summer Festival.
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 a doctorate in choral conducting from Boston University.
He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children.
