Ronan Murray
Encyclopedia
Rónán Murray is an Irish musician. From a musical family, his earliest piano lessons were with his late father, Ciarán. Rónán attended Blackrock College
, a school
for boy
s in south Dublin where his musical gifts were further nurtured. He was chapel
organist
during his school days there. Subsequent organ
studies with Peter Sweeney
at the Dublin Conservatory of Music and Drama were complemented by masterclasses from such leading organists as James David Christie
and Ben van Oosten
. Positions held by Rónán include organist of St. Stephen's church, Killiney
(1989–1991) and assistant organist of the Unitarian
church, Dublin (1993–1996). Since November 1996, he has been organist of St. Joseph's church http://www.glasthuleparish.com, Glasthule
, Dublin.
He is active as a freelance organist
, pianist
and composer
. With a repertoire covering everything from traditional music
and jazz
piano, to classical
organ music and improvisation
, Murray also writes and performs his own songs. He has made numerous radio
and television
broadcasts and is much in demand both as a solo artist and collaborator. Appearances include the first Cork
International Pipe Organ Festival in 2005 and a performance at the Cavaillé-Coll organ of St. Sulpice church, Paris.
Murray has featured as musical director for many productions, especially variety concerts in venues throughout Ireland. He was a finalist in the Unisong International Song Competition 2004. He co-wrote and performed (with mezzo-soprano
Maria de Moel) the musical theatre
piece "Violating Messages: The Songs of Kurt Weill
" during the 2005 Dublin Fringe Festival
. He frequently works with his sister, renowned soprano
Niamh Murray.
In August 2006 Murray performed a recital at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, home to one of the greatest pipe organs in the world. April 2007 saw him perform in Łódź Cathedral, Poland. His debut album of original songs, Reasons and Seasonshttp://cdbaby.com/cd/ronanmurray was released in June 2006. It features Murray's singing and piano playing backed by Pete Maguire on bass
and guitar
, Kevin Mullins on drums
and Lynette Maguire on clarinet
.
Upcoming projects include a CD recording showcasing the organ of St. Joseph's Glasthule
.
Blackrock College
Blackrock College is a Catholic voluntary secondary school for boys aged 14–18, located in Williamstown, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland. The College was founded by French missionaries in 1860, to act as a school and civil service training centre. Set in of grounds, it has an illustrious...
, a school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
for boy
Boy
A boy is a young male human , as contrasted to its female counterpart, girl, or an adult male, a man.The term "boy" is primarily used to indicate biological sex distinctions, cultural gender role distinctions or both...
s in south Dublin where his musical gifts were further nurtured. He was chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
during his school days there. Subsequent organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
studies with Peter Sweeney
Peter Sweeney
Peter Henry Sweeney is a Scottish professional football midfielder who currently plays for Football League One side Bury....
at the Dublin Conservatory of Music and Drama were complemented by masterclasses from such leading organists as James David Christie
James David Christie
James David Christie is an American organist with an extensive performance career throughout the world and especially in Europe. He is Chair and Professor of Organ at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, College Organist at Wellesley College and the Distinguished Artist in Residence at the College...
and Ben van Oosten
Ben van Oosten
Ben van Oosten is an organist, professor and author.Ben van Oosten gave his first organ recital in 1970 at the age of 15. He was accepted at the prestigious Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam and studied the organ with Albert de Klerk and piano with Berthe Davelaar...
. Positions held by Rónán include organist of St. Stephen's church, Killiney
Killiney
Killiney is a suburb of Dublin in south County Dublin, Ireland. It is within the administrative area of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County. The area is by the coast, south of neighbouring Dalkey, and north to Shankill area in the most southern outskirt of Dublin....
(1989–1991) and assistant organist of the Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
church, Dublin (1993–1996). Since November 1996, he has been organist of St. Joseph's church http://www.glasthuleparish.com, Glasthule
Glasthule
Glasthule is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland. It is along Dublin's East Coast, between Dún Laoghaire and Dalkey.Every year it celebrates Bloomsday ....
, Dublin.
He is active as a freelance organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. With a repertoire covering everything from traditional music
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
piano, to classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
organ music and improvisation
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
, Murray also writes and performs his own songs. He has made numerous radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
broadcasts and is much in demand both as a solo artist and collaborator. Appearances include the first Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
International Pipe Organ Festival in 2005 and a performance at the Cavaillé-Coll organ of St. Sulpice church, Paris.
Murray has featured as musical director for many productions, especially variety concerts in venues throughout Ireland. He was a finalist in the Unisong International Song Competition 2004. He co-wrote and performed (with mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano
A mezzo-soprano is a type of classical female singing voice whose range lies between the soprano and the contralto singing voices, usually extending from the A below middle C to the A two octaves above...
Maria de Moel) the musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
piece "Violating Messages: The Songs of Kurt Weill
Kurt Weill
Kurt Julian Weill was a German-Jewish composer, active from the 1920s, and in his later years in the United States. He was a leading composer for the stage who was best known for his fruitful collaborations with Bertolt Brecht...
" during the 2005 Dublin Fringe Festival
Dublin Fringe Festival
The Dublin Fringe Festival allows artists to develop and present their work by submitting their application which is subsequently reviewed by the programme manager. The festival is open to both Irish and international participants....
. He frequently works with his sister, renowned soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
Niamh Murray.
In August 2006 Murray performed a recital at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, home to one of the greatest pipe organs in the world. April 2007 saw him perform in Łódź Cathedral, Poland. His debut album of original songs, Reasons and Seasonshttp://cdbaby.com/cd/ronanmurray was released in June 2006. It features Murray's singing and piano playing backed by Pete Maguire on bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, Kevin Mullins on drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
and Lynette Maguire on clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
.
Upcoming projects include a CD recording showcasing the organ of St. Joseph's Glasthule
Glasthule
Glasthule is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland. It is along Dublin's East Coast, between Dún Laoghaire and Dalkey.Every year it celebrates Bloomsday ....
.