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“breathtaking”
(Kitchener-Waterloo Record)
“imaginative and expressive”
(The National Post)
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“a pulse-pounding barrage on the senses”
The Globe and Mail
“Bartok on steroids”
Birmingham News
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"an exciting and imaginative composer, much in demand especially in her native Canada and deservedly so"
New York Concert Review
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Kelly-Marie Murphy

Kelly-Marie Murphy’s compositional voice is well known on the Canadian music scene.  She has created a number of memorable works for some of Canada’s leading performers and ensembles, including the Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver Symphony Orchestras, The Gryphon Trio, James Campbell, Shauna Rolston, the Cecilia and Afiara String Quartets, and Judy Loman.

Dr. Murphy’s music has been performed around the world by outstanding soloists and ensembles, and has had radio broadcasts in over 22 countries.  Her music has been interpreted by renowned conductors such as Sir Andrew Davis, David Brophy, Bramwell Tovey, and Mario Bernardi.  Her music has been heard in iconic concert halls, such as Carnegie Hall in New York, The Mozarteum in Salzburg, and The National Concert Hall in Dublin.

Recent, Current and Upcoming
PROJECTS

Upcoming

  • Flowers Band, UK, for Brass in Concert, November 2023
  • Curiosity, Genius, and the Search for Petula Clark, reorchestration for performances in Toronto, New York, and The Netherlands, 2024

Current

  • Prima-Goodman Fantasy – Piano 4-hands piece for LaFiammata Duo, pan-Canadian tour, 2023/24
  • The Unstoppable Fear Machine – Saxophone trio (a consortium of saxophonists), world premiere in Italy, August 2023
  • New Work for National Arts Centre Orchestra, world premiere, November 2023

Recent

  • Alma Mahler Orchestrations
  • SATB piece for Vancouver Bach Choir
  • Double Concerto for Piano and Percussion, SHHhh Ensemble
  • Solo Piano piece for David Jalbert, October 2021
  • Concerto for The Cowan-Cicchillitti Duo and string orchestra
  • Triple Concerto for Trio Sora and Radio France Orchestra
  • Lafayette String Quartet

UPCOMING
PERFORMANCES & EVENTS

Si veriash a la rana

December 2, 2023
Location: Salle Michel-Côté, Alma, QC

Valerie Milot + Stéphane Tetreault

The Saxophone Music of Kelly-Marie Murphy

December 6, 2023
Location: World Saxophone Congress, Casa Museo Colón, Spain

Preston Duncan, saxophone presents:
Dynamic Sequences
The Unstoppable Fear Machine

And So Be Changed to Lighting in the End

January 26, 2024 - January 28, 2024
Location: The Orpheum, 601 Smithe Street, Vancouver

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra; Nicolas Ellis, Conductor

Curiosity, Genius, and the Search for Petula Clark

February 23, 2024 - February 24, 2024
Location: Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto

Toronto Symphony Orchestra

Curiosity, Genius, and the Search for Petula Clark

March 8, 2024
Location: Het Concertgebouw, Amsterdam

Concertgebouw Orchestra

Press

On Rethinking Heroism in the 21st Century…

“Murphy’s scores never fail for rhythmic interest (something like the music of John Adams), and that was the case here. She has, over the years, developed a consistent musical personality and style, and it is one that, with a certain eclecticism, works well in today’s musical environmentTechnically accomplished and showing strong developmental direction as it went on, this was an engaging piece by one of the most interesting mid-career Canadian composers, and one suitable for our ambivalent feelings about all things heroic in manner.”

– Michele Jarvie, The Calgary Herald

Kelly-Marie Murphy 2018 AMP Gala Concert with Yoav Talmi (Photo: Danylo Bobyk)
Kelly-Marie Murphy, composer