Conductor/composer Dr. Patrick Murray is a multi-faceted choral artist whose musical work reveals an equal commitment to high-calibre performance, education, and community engagement. Currently, as Director of the Choir of St. John’s Elora, Murray directs one of Canada’s pre-eminent professional choirs and oversees a comprehensive music performance and education program. Additionally, Murray serves as Artistic Director of  Chor Amica  (London, ON) and as Director of the University of Toronto Scarborough Concert Choir. 

Passionate about working with singers of all ages and abilities, Murray has served on choral faculty at Western University (2018-2021) and Wilfrid Laurier University (2021-2023), and as a teaching artist with the Bach Children’s Chorus (Scarborough, ON), Oakville Choir for Children and Youth, Toronto Children’s Chorus, and Illinois Summer Youth Music. An advocate for new music, Murray has premiered over thirty new works for choir or chamber ensemble from the podium, including recent commissions from composers Sarah Quartel, Roderick Williams, Katerina Gimon, and Jeff Enns. 

Murray’s own compositions and arrangements have been commissioned and premiered by numerous ensembles in Canada and the United States including New York Polyphony, Carmel Bach Festival, College of the Holy Cross, Utah State University, Metropolitan United Church (Toronto), Summer Institute of Church Music, and others. His works have been recognized by the SOCAN Young Composers Award, recorded by the DaCapo Chamber Choir, and are published by Cypress Choral Music and Renforth Music.

Murray’s research focuses on artistic practices of community collaboration in contemporary choral music. His work has been published in Choral Journal and featured at national and international choral and arts conferences, and has been supported by grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, SOCAN Foundation, Canadian New Music Network and others. Murray currently serves as President of Choirs Ontario and is active as an adjudicator and clinician. He is a graduate of University of Illinois (DMA), Yale School of Music (MM), and University of Toronto (B.Mus), studying under noted conductors including Andrew Megill, David Hill, Jeffrey Douma, Marguerite Brooks, Ivars Taurins, and Hilary Apfelstadt.