Pianist Kevin Murphy is professor of music in collaborative piano and director of coaching and music administration for the IU Opera Theater at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He’s a leading figure in the world of classical vocal music and has served as Jacobs faculty since 2011. In 2016, he joined newly appointed professor Anne Epperson as codirector in creating the graduate degree program in collaborative piano.

Since 2011, Murphy has been director of the program for singers at Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute, and 2013–14 marked his first season as artistic consultant for the Tucson Desert Song Festival. He’s currently artistic director of the Tel Aviv International Summer Opera Program. He also frequently serves as a guest vocal coach with The Santa Fe Opera and will be the guest coach for LA Opera in 2023. Previously, he was the director of music administration and casting advisor for the New York City Opera (2008–12) and the director of musical studies at the Opéra National de Paris (2006–08).

Murphy was the first pianist and vocal coach invited by Maestro James Levine to join the prestigious Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at The Metropolitan Opera, and from 1993 to 2006, Murphy was an assistant conductor at The Met. In his capacity as a member of The Met’s music staff, Murphy played continuo harpsichord for many productions and toured Japan with the company. He also performed in Carnegie Hall with the MET Orchestra Chamber Ensemble, and he’s frequently played chamber music with members of The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

In addition to his on- and off-stage partnership with his wife, soprano Heidi Grant Murphy, Murphy has collaborated in concert and recital with artists such as Michelle DeYoung, Thomas Hampson, Danielle de Niese, Lawrence Brownlee, Marcelo Álvarez, Iestyn Davies, Bejun Mehta, Gary Lakes, Kathleen Battle, Nathan Gunn, Elīna Garanča, Matthew Polenzani, Cecilia Bartoli, Frederica von Stade, Plácido Domingo, Paul Groves, Renée Fleming, Gerald Finley, Kiri Te Kanawa, Wolfgang Brendel, Christine Brewer, and Pinchas Zukerman. The San Francisco Examiner wrote: “Kevin Murphy is in the vanguard for Americans who have turned song accompaniment into an art. The pianism was so absorbing, the singer’s entry seemed like an intrusion. There can be no finer compliment.”

Murphy is sought after and respected for his work as a private vocal coach and teacher, and he’s been a guest coach at San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program, the International Vocal Arts Institute in Israel and Italy, the Glimmerglass Festival, Tanglewood, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and The Juilliard School. He’s also assisted Maestro Seiji Ozawa with his Mozart/Da Ponte opera festival in Japan, and he’s been a guest opera coach at the Netherlands Opera, Canadian Opera Company, and Ravinia Festival.

In addition to playing and teaching, Murphy has added conducting to his musical activities. He recently led and produced a staged concert performance of Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor at Indiana University, and he conducted the Schwabacher concerts for the Merola Opera Program. Murphy also led Robin Guarino’s production of Chabrier’s opera L’Étoile at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music, and he recently conducted Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder for Indiana University Ballet Theater.