Nicole Murphy
Nicole Murphy on teaching in the outback, the ambiguity of music, and the benefit of being oblivious.
Australian composer Nicole Murphy’s music has been described as “exquisite, sensitive and delicate”. She is the recipient of various awards, including the ICEBERG International Call for Scores (2017), Nief Norf International Call for Scores (2016), the MAFB International Commissioning Prize (2015), the Theodore Front International Orchestral Prize (2013), and the Definiens C3 International Composer’s Award (2011). She was chosen as the young composer to represent Australia at the 30th Asian Composers League Festival in Tel Aviv (2012). Recently, Nicole was selected as one of six composers to work with Steve Reich in Toronto (2016) as a part of Soundstreams celebrations of his 80th birthday.
Nicole has been commissioned by eminent arts organisations including the Australian Ballet, the Royal Academy of Dance (London), Experiments in Opera/Symphony Space (New York), the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, Wild Rumpus (San Francisco), Chamber Sounds (Singapore), and the Definiens Project (Los Angeles). Her music has been performed by ensembles such as the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, NOWensemble (New York), Ars Nova (Dallas), and Halcyon (Sydney). She has received performances at numerous festivals including the Atlantic Music Festival (Maine), the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival (Connecticut), the Dallas Festival of Modern Music, the Nief Norf Festival (Tennessee) and the Bowdoin International Music Festival (Maine).
Nicole is represented as an Associate Artist by the Australian Music Centre and holds the position of Composer-in-Residence at the Queensland Academy for Creative Industries. Her music is published by Wirripang and Nicole holds a PhD from the University of Queensland.
LISTEN/WATCH
Isa (movement I) begins at 00:41. Recorded live on June 27 2014 at Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. Performers: Jordan Dodson & Travor Babb (guitars)
Isa (movement II) begins at 03:18. Recorded live on June 27 2014 at Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. Performers: Jordan Dodson & Travor Babb (guitars)
Bridge begins at 09:20. Recorded live by Wild Rumpus on November 10 2012 at Community Music Center, San Francisco. Performers: Amy Sedan, flute; Sophie Huet, clarinet; Margaret Halbig, piano; Christy Kyong, violin; Joanne DeMars, violoncello.
Stolen (movement VI) begins at 16:40. Performers: Julian Pellicano (conductor), David Perry (clarinets), Jeff Stern (percussion) Solomon Silber (electric guitar), Miki Sawada (piano), Ilana Waniuk (violin), Samuel Suggs (double bass)
Water Mirrors begins at 20:38. Performed by Symphony No. 1, conducted by Jordan Randall Smith. Grace & St Peter’s Church, Baltimore. Oct 17 2015.
Mentioned in this episode
Sarah Hopkins - composer
The Kamikaze Mind by Richard James Allen
Andrew Ford - composer
Solomon Silber - guitarist
Extra: the landscape around Mount Isa
Purchase
Stolen - the full album, available on bandcamp through Elm City Records. Name your price.