McMurrin was born in Bedford, Indiana. As a youth he moved to Xenia, Ohio. He earned a degree in music from Olivet Nazarene University and became a teacher at Xenia High School. He then earned a master's degree from Ohio State University. He later became a music instructor at a college where he also studied conducting techniques.[2]
Musical careeredit
United Statesedit
McMurrin began his music career in 1972 at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and later became its director of music.[3] After 16 years at Coral Ridge, McMurrin left to become director of music at Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas and then moved on to First Presbyterian Church in Orlando, Florida.[4]
McMurrin had also performed on Diane Bish's The Joy of Music, including as part of the Coral Ridge choir during an episode about the life of John Wesley.[5]
Ukraineedit
In 1991, McMurrin was invited to Kiev, Ukraine by Episcopal priest George McCammon to conduct local musicians in a performance of Georg Friedrich Händel's Messiah. McMurrin had initially planned to go to the Caribbean and was familiar with Kiev only from The Great Gate of Kiev from Pictures at an Exhibition.[4] Upon arrival in 1992, McMurrin became aware that the Ukrainians had not heard Handel's Messiah before, as it had been banned by the Soviet Union.[6] McMurrin conducted the musicians in performing two concerts, in which Messiah was performed for the first time in Ukraine in 70 years.[7] During the plane ride back to the United States, McMurrin felt that God wanted him to move to Ukraine.[4] McMurrin moved to Ukraine permanently in 1993, and taught English and musical theory at St. Andrew's Preparatory School. In December McMurrin had to return to the United States as he only had $16 left. Friends gave McMurrin money for him to return to Ukraine, where he set up the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the first private orchestra in Ukraine.[4] The orchestra later went on tours of Ukraine and the United States.[6]
In 1994, McMurrin established the Church of the Holy Trinity as a place for the orchestra to play, and became an ordained pastor in the process.[2] At the time, most of the orchestra members were atheists or agnostics; however, a group of them became Christians after performing Christian music with McMurrin.[4] McMurrin became the pastor of the church, which gained funding as a result of the Orange Revolution.[4]
The following year, Roger McMurrin and his wife Dianne founded Music Mission Kiev, a Christian relief organization which is associated with the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.[8]
Personal lifeedit
McMurrin was the son of the Reverend Albert McMurrin.[9] McMurrin was a Christian and an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church. He was married and had two sons.[4] McMurrin died on December 13, 2023, at the age of 84.[10]
Referencesedit
^. Intelligencer Journal Lancaster (archived at Highbeam). Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
^ ab"A man God has endowed with splendour". Wumag.kiev.ua. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
^TIM SMITH (October 3, 1986). "Coral Ridge Concert Series Begins 15th Year". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
^ abcdefg"An ex-pat conductor with a mission". Kyiv Post. May 26, 2005. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
^"Diane Bish – The Joy of Music playlist". Retrieved February 8, 2014.
^ abBeth Pratta (October 11, 2002). "Concert has classics, songs from Ukraine". Lubbock Online. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
^Charles Strouse (December 29, 1996). "Ambassador Of Religious Music". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
^"About". Music Mission Kiev. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
^"The Rev. Albert R. McMurrin (1903–1991)". Iagenweb.org. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
^"Roger McMurrin obituary". Legacy. December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
roger, mcmurrin, roger, grant, mcmurrin, august, 1939, december, 2023, american, conductor, presbyterian, pastor, moved, ukraine, founded, symphony, orchestra, there, perform, sacred, music, reverendroger, grant, mcmurrinbornroger, grant, mcmurrin, 1939, augus. Roger Grant McMurrin August 7 1939 December 13 2023 was an American conductor and Presbyterian pastor who moved to Ukraine and founded a symphony orchestra there to perform sacred music 1 The ReverendRoger Grant McMurrinBornRoger Grant McMurrin 1939 08 07 August 7 1939Bedford Indiana U S DiedDecember 13 2023 2023 12 13 aged 84 Lebanon Ohio U S EducationOlivet Nazarene UniversityOhio State UniversityOccupationsMusic teacherConductorPastorSpouseDiane McMurrinChildren2 Contents 1 Early life 2 Musical career 2 1 United States 2 2 Ukraine 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editMcMurrin was born in Bedford Indiana As a youth he moved to Xenia Ohio He earned a degree in music from Olivet Nazarene University and became a teacher at Xenia High School He then earned a master s degree from Ohio State University He later became a music instructor at a college where he also studied conducting techniques 2 Musical career editUnited States edit McMurrin began his music career in 1972 at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale Florida and later became its director of music 3 After 16 years at Coral Ridge McMurrin left to become director of music at Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas Texas and then moved on to First Presbyterian Church in Orlando Florida 4 McMurrin had also performed on Diane Bish s The Joy of Music including as part of the Coral Ridge choir during an episode about the life of John Wesley 5 Ukraine edit In 1991 McMurrin was invited to Kiev Ukraine by Episcopal priest George McCammon to conduct local musicians in a performance of Georg Friedrich Handel s Messiah McMurrin had initially planned to go to the Caribbean and was familiar with Kiev only from The Great Gate of Kiev from Pictures at an Exhibition 4 Upon arrival in 1992 McMurrin became aware that the Ukrainians had not heard Handel s Messiah before as it had been banned by the Soviet Union 6 McMurrin conducted the musicians in performing two concerts in which Messiah was performed for the first time in Ukraine in 70 years 7 During the plane ride back to the United States McMurrin felt that God wanted him to move to Ukraine 4 McMurrin moved to Ukraine permanently in 1993 and taught English and musical theory at St Andrew s Preparatory School In December McMurrin had to return to the United States as he only had 16 left Friends gave McMurrin money for him to return to Ukraine where he set up the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and Chorus the first private orchestra in Ukraine 4 The orchestra later went on tours of Ukraine and the United States 6 In 1994 McMurrin established the Church of the Holy Trinity as a place for the orchestra to play and became an ordained pastor in the process 2 At the time most of the orchestra members were atheists or agnostics however a group of them became Christians after performing Christian music with McMurrin 4 McMurrin became the pastor of the church which gained funding as a result of the Orange Revolution 4 The following year Roger McMurrin and his wife Dianne founded Music Mission Kiev a Christian relief organization which is associated with the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and Chorus 8 Personal life editMcMurrin was the son of the Reverend Albert McMurrin 9 McMurrin was a Christian and an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church He was married and had two sons 4 McMurrin died on December 13 2023 at the age of 84 10 References edit From the U S to Ukraine and back again American born conductor now living in Kiev comes to Lancaster with Kiev Symphony Orchestra Intelligencer Journal Lancaster archived at Highbeam Archived from the original on June 11 2014 Retrieved February 8 2014 a b A man God has endowed with splendour Wumag kiev ua Retrieved February 8 2014 TIM SMITH October 3 1986 Coral Ridge Concert Series Begins 15th Year Sun Sentinel Retrieved February 8 2014 a b c d e f g An ex pat conductor with a mission Kyiv Post May 26 2005 Retrieved February 8 2014 Diane Bish The Joy of Music playlist Retrieved February 8 2014 a b Beth Pratta October 11 2002 Concert has classics songs from Ukraine Lubbock Online Retrieved February 8 2014 Charles Strouse December 29 1996 Ambassador Of Religious Music Orlando Sentinel Retrieved February 8 2014 About Music Mission Kiev Retrieved December 15 2023 The Rev Albert R McMurrin 1903 1991 Iagenweb org Retrieved February 8 2014 Roger McMurrin obituary Legacy December 14 2023 Retrieved December 13 2023 External links editObituary Roger McMurrin discography at Discogs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Roger McMurrin amp oldid 1191596167, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
