Key'mon Winkfield Murrah
Born (1990-01-20) January 20, 1990
Louisville, Kentucky, US
NationalityAmerican
EducationUniversity of Kentucky (BA)
OccupationOperatic countertenor
Years active2018–present
RelativesKay'mon Murrah (brother)
AwardsGiulio Gari Vocal Competition (2023)
International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition (2022)
Operalia competition (2021)
WebsiteOfficial website

Key'mon Winkfield Murrah ([ki'mon wɪŋkfiːld məˈrɑ]; born January 20, 1990) is an American countertenor singer. He has performed leading roles with many opera companies and concert venues, including Bavarian State Opera and the Los Angeles Opera.

Education and career

He was born in 1990 in Louisville, Kentucky. After singing in the church choir as a child, at 9 years old, Murrah joined a boys choir of majority black students at the West Louisville Performing Arts Academy performing spirituals, jazz, and classical music across the country.[1]

He began his classical music studies as a vocal major at the Youth Performing Arts School, a comprehensive magnet high school for the performing arts. In 2007 he attended the Kentucky Governor's School for the Arts. He received a bachelor's degree in Arts administration at the University of Kentucky. During his studies, he participated in several performances organized by the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre, Louisville Chorus, and the Bluegrass Opera Company. He continued his studies at the International Vocal Arts Institute.[2]

In 2019, Murrah made his professional debut as Asprano in Vivaldi's Motezuma at the American Baroque Opera Company. In 2020 he participated in the Joyce DiDonato Master Class series at Carnegie Hall,[3] toured with the American Spiritual Ensemble, was a young artist at the Glimmerglass Festival, joined the Studio Artist Program at the Florida Grand Opera, and debuted Bertarido from Handel's Rodelinda as a Fleming Artist at the Aspen Music Festival and School.[4]

In his 2021–2022 season, he was the 1st-place winner of the 33rd Annual Houston Grand Opera Concert of Arias,[5] the grand prize winner of the Premiere Opera Foundation + NYIOP International Vocal Competition, and a finalist and encouragement award winner of Operalia.[6] He also made debuts at the Seattle Opera as Orfeo in Gluck's Orfeo and at Grand Rapids Symphony as the alto soloist in Bach's Mass in B minor.[7]

In the 2022–23 season, Murrah's performances included his debut at the Bavarian State Opera in Dido and Aeneas, Handel's Messiah with St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, a debut with San Diego Opera in the world premiere of El último sueño de Frida y Diego by Gabriela Frank, Detroit Opera in the title role in Serse for, and the Théâtre du Capitole Toulouse in Bach's Christmas Oratorio.[7][8] In June, he won first prize in the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition.[9]

In 2023, Murrah made his debuts at the Los Angeles Opera, Edwardsville Opera, New Jersey Symphony, Komische Oper Berlin as Hamor in Handel's Jephtha, and Cologne Opera in concert.[2][7] In May, Murrah also won the Giulio Gari Vocal Competition.[10][11][12][13][14][15]

Awards

  • 2nd place, Emerging Soloists Competition (2019)[7]
  • Semi-finalist, Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition (2020)[16]
  • 1st Prize, Camille Coloratura Awards (2020)[17]
  • 2nd place, Rochester International Vocal Competition (2020)[18]
  • 1st-place winner, Houston Grand Opera Concert of Arias (2021)[5]
  • Grand prize Winner, Premiere Opera Foundation + NYIOP International Vocal Competition (2021)[19]
  • Encouragement Award/ Finalist, Operalia (2021)[6]
  • Grant Winner, Career Bridges (2021)[20]
  • Grant Winner, Sullivan Foundation (2022)[21]
  • 1st place Winner, International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition (2022)[9]
  • 1st place Winner, Giulio Gari Vocal Competition (2023)[10]

References

  1. ↑ "'More than just music' | West Louisville Boys Choir weaves community connection spanning generations". whas11.com. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Official website". keymonmurrahcountertenor.com – official website. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "Vocal Masterclass with Joyce DiDonato – Handel's "Where'er you walk" from Semele". Bachtrack. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "Key'mon Murrah: A Voice Rising to Any Challenge". Retrieved 28 December 2023 – via issuu.
  5. 1 2 Salazar, David (6 February 2021). "Key'mon W. Murrah Wins Houston Grand Opera's 2021 Concert of Arias". OperaWire. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Operalia 2021 Finalists Announced!". Operalia. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Key'mon Murrah – Counter-tenor". L2 Artists. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  8. ↑ "Programme – Oratorio de Noël". calameo.com. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  9. 1 2 Salazar, Francisco (14 June 2022). "International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition Announces 2022 Winners". OperaWire. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  10. 1 2 OperaWire (15 October 2023). "The Giulio Gari Foundation to Present 2023 Winners Concert". OperaWire. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  11. ↑ "El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego | LA Opera". Los Angeles Opera. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  12. ↑ Moon, Jill (22 August 2023). "Edwardsville City Park features Opera Edwardsville free operatic concert". The Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  13. ↑ "Handel's Messiah". my.njsymphony.org. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  14. ↑ "Jephtha" (in German). Komische Oper Berlin. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  15. ↑ "Opern-Air am Tanzbrunnen". Cologne Opera. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  16. ↑ "Metropolitan Opera announces 23 semifinalists in its National Council Auditions". Metropolitan Opera. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  17. ↑ "2020 – Camille Coloratura Awards". Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  18. ↑ Stage, Sarah (1 March 2021). "Rochester International Vocal Competition 2020–2021 Winners". Rossings. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  19. ↑ Premiere Opera Foundation International Vocal Competition 2020, retrieved 29 December 2023
  20. ↑ "The Schuyler Foundation for Career Bridges' Cordially Invites You to Attend – Times Square Chronicles". t2conline.com. 12 April 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  21. ↑ "The Sullivan Foundation". www.sullivanfoundation.org. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
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