jazz composer and conductor
"Olivia is a real diamond, creating great work still so early in her career ... (her jazz orchestra) is a project that deserves to be seen on as many stages as possible"
Alex Carr, Cheltenham Jazz / Southbank Centre
Multi-award winning composer Olivia Murphy has quickly established herself as an innovative, creative and colourful artist working in large ensemble jazz.
After studying jazz saxophone at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Olivia has focused on composition and conducting. She has been mentored by British Jazz Composer greats Django Bates and Nikki Iles and has since developed her own distinct and personal voice. Her music fuses contemporary composition and song-writing with elements of free improvisation, while always keeping story-telling at its core.
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The Olivia Murphy Jazz Orchestra was established with the support of the Peter Whittingham Jazz Award in 2021 and has since gone on to perform sold out performances across the UK, and release its debut EP, Somewhere, Not So Far Away, which was recorded live at Birmingham Symphony Hall. The orchestra will be recording its debut studio album in October 2024, with support from the Help Musicians Next Level Award.
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In 2024, Olivia became a Resident Musical Director for the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, following a successful period as composer-in-residence in 2020-22. During this time, Olivia reimagined the songs of Amy Winehouse for the 22-piece orchestra for a 20 date UK-tour, including dates at Ronnie Scott's, Oxford Town Hall and Derry Jazz Festival.
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Olivia is regularly commissioned and in 2022 was honoured to be invited by the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire to re-arrange a Mike Gibbs' The Time Has Come to celebrate the legendary and influential composer's 85th birthday. ​​
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Olivia loves to be collaborative and diverse in her compositional work, from her newest piece Europa, written for GOKUMI large ensemble and improvising vocal chorus, to her clarinet, piano & vocal small ensemble Moonrise Trio, to educational, accessible big band pieces (e.g for the University of Birmingham Jazz Orchestra).
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"The Gull", mov. 3 from Sister Suite, performed by Olivia Murphy Jazz Orchestra, Summer 2023
large ensemble works & commissions
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Europa (8 minutes) - improvising vocal chorus, clarinet, bass clarinet, violin 1 & 2, cello, lever harp, jazz guitar, double bass, percussion. London, May 2024.
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Sister Suite (25 minutes) - 18-piece jazz orchestra. Four movement suite. Birmingham Symphony Hall (B:Jazz Festival), August 2023.
The Time Has Come (Mike Gibbs arr. Olivia Murphy) (7 minutes) - 15-piece jazz orchestra. Commissioned by Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, December 2022.
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Somewhere, Not So Far Away (30 minutes) - 21-piece jazz orchestra, four piece live album. recorded live at Birmingham Symphony Hall, February 2022.
The Music of Amy Winehouse (arr. Olivia Murphy) - 22 piece jazz orchestra, arranged for a 20-date UK tour with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, 2021-2022.
There Is A Hill (5 minutes) - Jazz Orchestra Educational Programme, commissioned by the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, June 2020.
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Olivia has also been commissioned to write small ensemble / solo works by Sonorite Saxophone Quartet, Stoney Lane Records, percussionist Gloria Yehilevsky, and guitarist Daniel Kemshell.
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“her arrangements bring to mind Gil Evans, elsewhere… are reminiscent of Maria Schneider, wistful and moody…. clearly a name to watch out for” UK Jazz News
“her conducting style is almost like expressive dancing...very distinctive, clearly communicating nuance to the players. She’s almost entering the realms of shadow puppetry shapes!” Jazzlines