David Murray

David Murray has an international reputation as a solo bassist and teacher. He is currently Associate Professor of Bass at Butler University in Indianapolis and Principal Bassist of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. He also plays as Principal Bassist with Sinfonia da Camera in Urbana, Illinois, and at the Bear Valley Music Festival in northern California. Before coming to Indianapolis, David was Instructor of Bass at West Texas A&M University. David’s first private teacher was bass virtuoso Gary Karr, with whom he studied in high-school and at the Hartt Music School in Connecticut. Summers were spent at Tanglewood and the Aspen Music Festival, where he worked with Stuart Sankey. In 1981 he won the Aspen concerto competition. In Los Angeles in1988 he won the International Society of Bassists (ISB) Solo Competition, the first prize being a solo debut at Carnegie Hall. David has performed as soloist and given clinics and masterclasses throughout the United States, Canada, South Korea, Brazil, Israel, Scotland, Poland, and Holland. In June, 2001, David hosted the ISB convention at Butler University  for 800 bassists from 27 countries, and is currently Past-President of the ISB. He has recorded two solo CD’s and released a video of theater music in the spring of 2003. His most recent CD, “Duetti Dolci” a collection of duos, was released in 2007 with bassist Diana Gannett.

“…to hear David Murray play it, the string bass is a vastly and unjustly neglected instrument. Murray…became a prime spokesman for the instrument.”  Denver Post

“…Murray is a top-notch player.”    Indianapolis Star