Ken Murray is a Melbourne based guitarist. He studied at the University of Melbourne with John Griffiths, Susan Ellis and Michael Christoforidis. Ken holds a Bachelor of Music (honours) and a Master of Music (performance) from the University of Melbourne.
He has performed around Australia and has toured to Portugal, Spain, England and the Netherlands. Ken has a strong commitment to performing contemporary music, particularly works written by Australian composers.
He is a specialist in the Classical Guitar music of Spain which he has studied and researched over many years, culminating in the release of the critically acclaimed CD Homenaje in 2003.
Ken performs regularly as a third of the Odeon Guitar Trio alongside Doug de Vries and Jaime Smith. This group explores the musical connections emerging between Australia, Brazil and other guitar traditions of the world
Ken has written a variety of works for guitar in solo and ensemble settings. His works have been commissioned by the Santo Tirso International Guitar Festival and the Suzuki Association of Victoria.
Ken has performed with many ensembles as a guitarist and mandolinist including: Elision, Libra, re-sound, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Victoria. He has collaborated in duos with musicians such as Jeannie Marsh (voice), Hartley Newnham (voice), Silve Leprohon (flute), Laila Engle (flute) and guitarists: Oscar Flecha (Portugal), Geoffrey Morris and Owen Thomson.
Ken is convenor of guitar at the Faculty of VCA and Music, School of Music and classical guitar teacher at Xavier College.
Ken plays two guitars: a 2000 Simon Marty and a 2007 Torres style guitar by Dane Hancock