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Aubrey Murphy facts for kids

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Aubrey Murphy is an Irish violinist. He is a very important musician who often leads orchestras. He is currently the Concertmaster (the main leader of the violins) for the Cleveland Opera Theater and Opera Project Columbus. Before this, he was the Concertmaster for Opera Australia in Sydney, Australia. He also played as a main violinist for the Royal Opera House Orchestra in London, UK.

Early Life and Music Journey

Aubrey Murphy was born in Dublin, Ireland. He started playing both the piano and the violin when he was only five years old. When he was ten, he achieved something special: he was the first Irish student ever to be accepted into the Yehudi Menuhin School. This is a famous school for very talented young musicians. Later, in 1983, he went to Indiana University in the United States. There, he continued to study the violin with several well-known teachers.

Leading Orchestras

Aubrey Murphy has had a busy and successful career. He has been a guest leader for orchestras like the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Ulster Orchestra. He then spent eight years playing as a main violinist for the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House in London. He also often acted as the Guest Concertmaster there. During this time, he worked with many famous conductors, who are the people who lead the orchestra.

In 2002, Aubrey Murphy became the Concertmaster for Opera Australia. This meant he led the violin section at the Sydney Opera House. He also helped start a group called the 'Soloists of the Royal Opera House' in 1993. In 2002, he created another group called the 'Utzon Ensemble'. This group played the very first concert in a newly improved room at the Sydney Opera House. They also performed many chamber music concerts in Sydney until 2008. In July 2012, he left his role as Concertmaster for the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra.

Achievements and Awards

Aubrey Murphy has received special recognition for his musical talents:

  • He earned an Artists Diploma and Performers Certificate from Indiana University.
  • He was awarded the Centenary Medal for his important contributions to music in Australia.

Music Recordings

Aubrey Murphy has been part of many music recordings:

  • He has recorded many pieces with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and other artists.
  • He played on recordings of operas like The Love for Three Oranges by Prokofiev and Rusalka by Dvorak with Opera Australia. These were conducted by Richard Hickox. He also recorded with The Australian Ballet, led by Nicolette Fraillon.

His Special Violin

Aubrey Murphy plays a very old and special violin. It was made in 1853 by a famous violin maker named Giuseppe Rocca. He got this violin in 2003.

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