Last edited: 06/20/2008

The Percussion Ensemble

Membership Fee:  $285 - $325

Conducted by: Thomas Murphy

Thomas Murphy

Thomas Murphy is a Percussionist and Music Educator in the Phoenix area.  He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the State University of New York at Potsdam, and a Master’s of Percussion Performance from Arizona State University.

Thomas has directed percussion ensembles and taught percussion lessons at the high school and college level.  He has given Latin Percussion clinics to music teachers throughout New York State with the aim of bringing Latin music into the classroom.  As a teaching assistant at Arizona State University, he taught Percussion Methods and percussion lessons.  During his ten year career Thomas has performed with the Phoenix Symphony, Mesa Symphony, Sonoran Desert Chorale and The Chamber Orchestra of Northern New York. He also freelances with various Latin and Jazz groups in the Phoenix Metro area. 

Thomas is an adjunct faculty member at Mesa Community College where he teaches Percussion and Rock Music History. He also teaches music in the Higley Unified School District. Thomas has adjudicated percussion for the Arizona All State Regional Band competition as well the Arizona State University Honor Band.  Currently in his fourth year as Percussion Director with The Phoenix Symphony Guild, Thomas strives to prepare percussionists to be well-rounded musicians that are up to any challenge they may face.