Brian Murphy is the Director of Orchestras and Assistant Director of Bands at Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona. In his twenty years at Mesa Community College, the orchestra program has grown both in size and musical maturity. While teaching at the college, Mr. Murphy also spent sixteen years building a band and guitar program at Horizon Honors Elementary and Secondary Schools in Phoenix. The program grew to include five bands and two guitar classes for students in grades 5-12.
Prior to teaching at Horizon, Mr. Murphy spent nine years as the band director and assistant orchestra director at Dobson High School in Mesa. During his tenure at Dobson, the bands received numerous awards including invitations to perform at the AMEA State Conference (1996, 2000) and at the MENC National Conference (1998). Under his direction, the Dobson Mustang Marching Band consistently received ratings of Superior or Superior with Distinction. Brian assisted in conducting the Dobson Symphony Orchestra’s performance at the Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic (1996).
In February of 2021, Mr. Murphy was selected as the Music Educator of the Year by the Arizona Music Educators Association. Mr. Murphy also received the Arizona Music Educators Association O.M. Hartsell “Excellence in Music Teaching” award in 2014. In 2023, he was inducted into the Phi Beta Mu Hall of Fame for the Kappa Zeta Chapter.
Currently, Mr. Murphy is a conductor and the Associate Artistic Director with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony in Mesa AZ.
Brian is the owner of Conceptual Band & Orchestra Clinics LLC. In this capacity, he is active as an adjudicator and clinician in Arizona and throughout the Southwest.