Biography
SHORT BIOGRAPHY
Marc Murray was born and educated in Cape Town, South Africa with initial studies at the University of Cape Town’s College of Music.
Marc is Director of Music and Master of the Choir School of St Mary the Virgin, Bury Parish Church, Foundation Organist and Organ Teacher of Bolton School, Director of Music for Southport Bach Choir (who are looking forward to 2024 when Marc will conduct the choir at the Bach Festival in Leipzig) and between 2017 and 2019, Conductor of Chester St. Cecilia Singers, having previously been their accompanist since 2015. In September 2019, he became conductor of the Rawstorne Singers, and in 2022, Preston Cecilian Choral Society.
In 2010, Marc moved to the United Kingdom to take up the post of Director of Music at St Botolph’s Church (Boston Stump), Boston in Lincolnshire. Later that year, he also became conductor of Peterborough Opera. He has worked several Choral societies and Operatic groups as well as conducting Peterborough Symphony Orchestra and accompanied Cantemus Choir, Lesley Garrett and Aled Jones at Boston Stump. He has also recorded for BBC Radio Lincolnshire.
As an organist, he has given recitals and played in concerts throughout South Africa, as well as the USA, Germany, Sweden, and the UK, including solo recitals in Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s, Southwark, Blackburn, Chester, Newcastle and Bradford Cathedrals.
Marc holds both the Fellowship (FRCO) and Choral Directing (DipCHD) Diplomas of the Royal College of Organists, and is an Accredited Teacher of the College.
Marc has completed a MA at the University of York with Professor Peter Seymour focusing on Baroque performance practice and harpsichord with Catherine Pierron . He has played continuo with the university's Baroque ensemble and regularly plays with Ad Hoc Baroque and also Leeds Baroque.
At present Marc is PhD Student at the University of York researching the music of Thomas Dupuis within 'The Land without music'.