One of the foremost composers on the Canadian music scene, Kelly-Marie Murphy has had her music performed around the world by outstanding soloists and ensembles over the airwaves and in iconic concert halls and venues. 

And it all started in Winnipeg at the Centennial Concert Hall in 1995. 

“It was one of those bleacher concerts on the stage,” recounts Kelly-Marie Murphy. “The audience was everywhere. It was almost like being in a boxing ring.” 

At the invitation of Glenn Buhr, then composer-in-residence with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and co-founder of the Winnipeg New Music Festival, Murphy had her piece This Is My Voice played by the in-house WSO quartet. 

The following day, Murphy was welcomed into the office of maestro Bramwell Tovey who commissioned her first orchestral work to be played the following year. 

“All of these big moments in my career have either happened on the Winnipeg stage or come to Winnipeg in some way,” says Murphy. “It’s just a thread that has gone through my entire career.” 

On Friday, January 28, under the direction of maestro Daniel Raiskin, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra performs Murphy’s In the time of our disbelieving at the final concert of the 2022 Winnipeg New Music Festival.

For tickets, online or in person, visit: www.wnmf.ca 

Composer Kelly-Marie Murphy joined Simeon Rusnak for a conversation ahead of the performance. Learn more about the “cathartic” experience of writing In the time of our disbelieving; a favourite meme that best describes a composer’s pandemic experience; and, hear about some of Murphy’s WNMF memories.