David Murray was appointed second trombonist of the National Symphony Orchestra by Christoph Eschenbach in 2014. Prior to joining the NSO, Mr. Murray was a freelance musician performing with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Baltimore, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, San Antonio, and San Diego symphonies; the Louisiana and Malaysian Philharmonics; the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia; and the IRIS Orchestra, among others. Since 2015, he has been a member of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. He has also participated in the Schleswig-Holstein, Spoleto USA, and Chautauqua Festivals. In addition to serving on the faculty at the Peabody Conservatory, he teaches at the NSO Summer Music Institute and has taught the Curtis Institute Summerfest.
Mr. Murray began his early musical studies on the piano at age 5, adding trombone at age 9. He later continued training at Peabody Preparatory on both instruments. Selected to participate in Peabody’s Arts for Talented Youth Program, he received intensive education in theory, orchestra, chamber music, and collaborative arts. Mr. Murray holds a Bachelor of Music (High Distinction and Performer’s Certificate) from the Eastman School of Music and a diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music. His primary teachers were Blair Bollinger, John Marcellus, Ralph Sauer, and Christopher Dudley.
