Music in the Mountains names Murray “resident conductor”

Music in the Mountains today announced the naming of Ryan Murray as “Resident Conductor and Choral Director,” reflecting the overwhelming impact and success of his five-year tenure as Choral Director of the 90-member Music in the Mountains Chorus, according to Sherry Bartolucci, Board President of Music in the Mountains.

“Ryan has led our Chorus with mastery and singular competence,” said Ms. Bartolucci. “He is a joy to work with, and has well-earned this additional recognition. With these new responsibilities, Mr. Murray will support our Guest Conductors, as well as conduct those concerts where Guest Conductors were not available or appropriate,” she added.

A busy man, Ryan James Murray is a highly regarded conductor in steady demand as both a performer and educator throughout California. Ryan has been the Choral Director of the Music in the Mountains Chorale since 2008, garnering rave reviews from audiences and performers alike.

Additionally, Ryan was recently named Music Director for the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra, as well as being named Artistic Director of the Napa Valley Youth Symphony; with which he will make his conducting debut at Carnegie Hall during the 2014 season.

Widely praised for his skill on the podium, Ryan’s dynamic conducting, affable personality and deeply-held passion for the arts has allowed him to connect deeply with orchestras and audiences alike. Ryan is passionate about music education and has worked as a guest clinician for youth orchestras and choirs throughout California and has served previously as the co-director for the California Youth Symphony Summer Orchestra Camp.

Ryan also holds the position of Music Director of Townsend Opera in Modesto, California. Since 2008, Ryan has led the company in many critically acclaimed productions, including highly lauded performances of Carmen and La Traviata. Ryan also serves as the Assistant Conductor and Director of Vocal Activities for the Vocal and Instrumental Teaching Academy (VITA) in Sacramento, California.

RECENTLY LED VITA ORCHESTRA

Focusing on education, Ryan recently led the VITA orchestra in performing the Carnegie Hall ‘Link-Up’ program; an interactive concert culminating from a yearlong curriculum for young students. Ryan previously acted as a Faculty Conductor for the Bay Area Summer Opera Theater Institute (BASOTI), a nationally acclaimed summer program for pre-professional opera singers.

He also served as a Faculty Conductor for the Opera Academy of California Summer Program. In this position Ryan helped to train emerging young artists and worked alongside conductors and voice teachers from opera companies around the world.

In 2013, Ryan was selected as a runner-up for the prestigious Ansbacher Fellowship for Young Conductors with the Vienna Philharmonic at the Salzburg Festival. In addition, Ryan was selected to participate in the University of Oregon Conducting Workshop with Master Teacher Neil Varon of the Eastman School of Music, as well as the 2013 Waterville Valley Music Center Conducting Masterclass with Maestro Kenneth Kiesler in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire.

Ryan graduated summa cum laude from California State University, Sacramento, with degrees in bassoon and vocal performance. While completing his studies at CSUS, he served as Assistant Conductor of the orchestra and opera programs and performed as a guest soloist. He went on to teach bassoon at California State University, Sacramento in 2010.

Music in the Mountains inspires and connects people of all ages through extraordinary classical music performances, community engagement, and music education.

–Music in the Mountains