Faculty Spotlight: Deanna Murray

Meet Deanna Murray! She is married to bass player, composer and teacher, Jon Murray. The Murray’s have three children William, David and Mari and live in Ahwatukee, Arizona and attend Arizona Community Church.

Dr. Murray has sung numerous operatic roles including, Countess, Donna Elvira, Pamina Fiordiligi, Donna Anna, Musetta and Micaela to consistently high praise:

“A confident full-voiced Micaela.”

“Her Pamina was a joy to hear and behold.”

“Her performance of Fiordiligi’s famous aria from Act One, “Come Scoglio” was stunning, virtually worth the price of admission. Her acting is also natural, sympathetic and believable.”

“As Santuzza, the female lead, Murray graced her role with a penetrating, beautifully modulated voice Friday night. Hers is a lovely, intelligently guided young instrument; a real pleasure.”

She received her DMA in Vocal Performance from the University of Arizona following a period of performances in Europe and the United States. She has won various classical vocal competitions such as the Music Teacher’s National Association Young Artist Award, the Riemann Operatic Award, the Butterfield Competition and was the district finalist for the Metropolitan Opera Audition numerous times.

Her performances of concert repertoire include the Verdi Requiem, the Brahms Requiem, the Mozart Requiem and the Dvorak Te Deum.  Die Vier Letze Lieder of Strauss, Barber’s Knoxville Summer 1915 and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony are among recent performances with orchestra.

Dr. Murray served as a Professor at California State University Northridge where she coordinated the voice area and produced opera and taught all voice-related classes. She has been privileged to teach, coordinate and help recruit for summer music festivals and institutes in Salzburg, Germany, France, Austria and Luxembourg.

Deanna’s students have won numerous competitions including the Western Regional Metropolitan Opera Auditions, American Educators of Italian Origin competition and the Meistersinger Competition at AIMS in Austria. Her students are singing in opera companies around the world, young artist programs, on Broadway, in recording studios and teaching on the college level.

She is currently accepting voice students and helping to develop Opera Workshop at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix.

If you want to learn more about Grand Canyon University’s arts program within the College of Fine Arts and Production, check out our website or click the Request More Information button on this page.