Flutist Erin Kendall Murphy has an active and multifaceted career as a performer and
educator. She frequently performs with orchestras, in chamber music collaborations,
and as a soloist throughout the U.S. and abroad. Educationally, her overarching goals
are developing the talents of people of all ages and fostering community spirit.
Dr. Murphy made her concerto debut with the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra in the spring of 2013. She has performed as a soloist with the Lake Forest Civic Orchestra, Oklahoma State University Symphony Orchestra, Ravenswood Community Orchestra, and Whitewater Chamber Players. She has also performed with the Kansas City Symphony, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Symphony of Southeast Texas, Evanston Symphony Orchestra, Mode chamber ensemble and Gaudete Brass, Southport Symphony Orchestra, and Lake Shore Symphony Orchestra. Her recent chamber music appearances include those with the OSU Woodwind Faculty Trio Bluestem Blaze, Lakeshore Rush, and the Analogue Duo. Dr. Murphy has performed in England, Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic. She is a founding member and flutist of Lakeshore Rush, a Pierrot plus percussion ensemble that collaborates with composers and performs contemporary works. Since their 2014-2015 inaugural season, they have premiered commissions by Roger Zare, Beth Bradfish, Kyong Mee Choi, Elizabeth Start, Laura Schwendinger, Pierre Jalbert, Joshua Hintze, Jonathan Hannau, and Griffin Candey. Erin has performed solo recitals in Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin.
In 2018, Dr. Murphy joined the faculty of Oklahoma State University as the Assistant Professor of Flute. Before her appointment at OSU, she served as faculty at Lamar University, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and Maranatha Baptist University. She has given master classes at universities, high schools, and community music schools across the country. Additionally, she has performed and presented at several National Flute Association Conventions, College Music Society South Central, Music by Women Festival in Mississippi, Clarinet Colloquium at Texas A&M University-Commerce, Flute New Music Consortium New Music Festival, National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors Conference, Women Composers Festival of Hartford, Texas Music Educators Association Convention, International Alliance for Women in Music Congress, Tenth Festival of Women Composers at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Chicago Flute Club Festivals, and Wisconsin Flute Festival. Her articles have been published in The Flutist Quarterly, Journal of the International Alliance for Women in Music, FQ Plus, Flute Talk, BandDirectorsTalkShop.com, and Chicago Flute Club's Pipeline.
Dr. Murphy transcribed 17 pieces from Marin Marais' Suitte d'un goût étranger for flute and keyboard. She collaborated with pianist Dr. Kirstin Ihde on a recording of these intriguing French baroque character pieces, which was released in April 2014. Her second solo recording Day and Night: Modern Flute and Piano Duos by Women Composers was recently released in August 2020 on the Albany Records label.
Her applied flute students have been accepted to excellent undergraduate and graduate programs including the San Francisco Conservatory, Northwestern University, Indiana University Bloomington, University of Akron, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. They have won master classes and concerto competitions, been featured on notable alumni concerts, and become successful educators across the country in applied flute and general music education.
Dr. Murphy holds degrees in flute performance from the University of Michigan (B.M., James B. Angell Scholar), Northwestern University (M.M. with honors), and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (D.M.A., music theory minor). In addition, she earned a performance certificate while studying in Kent, England at Trevor Wye's International Flute Studio. Her other influential teachers include Stephanie Jutt, Mary Stolper, Walfrid Kujala, Amy Porter, Lorna McGhee, and Jeff Zook.
Erin is a member of the Oklahoma Flute Society (Elected Delegate 2019-2021), Chicago Flute Club (Past President), National Flute Association, International Association for Women in Music, Lakeshore Rush NFP (Chair of the Board), Musicians Club of Women, Pi Kappa Lambda Fraternity, and the Texas Music Educators Association.