About Paul
Trumpeter Paul Murphy has worked frequently as a musician and educator at The Juilliard School, Carnegie Hall, the New York Philharmonic, and on Broadway. His work as a musician and teaching artist has taken him to hundreds of cities and 26 countries throughout Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Paul spent several seasons as a member of the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra, and has performed with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, the Knights, the International Contemporary Ensemble, and the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra. Paul is a co-founder and former Artistic Director of Decoda, an artist-led collective seeking to create a more compassionate and connected world through music. Decoda is the first and only independent ensemble to be recognized as an affiliate ensemble of Carnegie Hall.
An inaugural recipient of the Yale Distinguished Teaching Artist Award, Paul is committed to expanding the role of what it means to be a 21st-century musician. He proudly served on the teaching-artist faculty of the New York Philharmonic for 14 years, where he appeared both as a soloist on stage in front of the orchestra, as well as in hundreds of classrooms throughout New York City. He has also helped to design projects and programming for Carnegie Hall's Musical Connections program, which sends artists into community centers, hospitals, and correctional facilities. Paul has also worked as a global K-12 curriculum specialist for The Juilliard School, helping to develop curriculum and to support music educators and school administrators to grow stronger performing arts programs. Paul previously served on faculty at the Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music where he directed the brass choir and led an advanced career seminar for graduate students. In the summers Paul teaches at the Kinhaven Music School in Vermont.
Prior to living in New York, Paul served as the Principal Trumpet of the Daejeon Philharmonic in South Korea. He has earned degrees from the Yale School of Music and St. Olaf College, and was an Ensemble Connect Fellow at The Juilliard School and Carnegie Hall from 2007-2010. He is currently pursuing an Ed.D. degree in Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Work with Paul
"Teaching brings me as much joy as performing on stage at Carnegie Hall"
- Paul Murphy
It may come as no surprise that as a musical artist I love to perform. I've been fortunate to perform in countless concerts at Carnegie Hall during my professional career as a trumpeter. But performing onstage isn't the only thing that gives me joy. I'm also passionate about helping others find their musical voice--teaching has always been a big part of my calling.
Early on in my career I was fortunate to become a member of Ensemble Connect, a two-year fellowship program which helped to prepare me for a broader kind of music career. Through the fellowship, I was introduced to so many fantastic colleagues who are not only exemplary performers, but also dedicated teachers, and passionate advocates for music. This video in which I speak about the joy of activating creativity in others was filmed as part of a broader series called the Connected Musician.