Performer | Broadcaster | Producer | Festival Director

Recitalist, concerto soloist and inspired communicator. John Ireland, Joseph Horowitz, John McCabe, Don Banks, Larry Sitsky, Alexander Goehr, Berthold Goldschmidt and Edwin Carr have endorsed Murray Khouri’s unique musical insight.

Murray Khouri is arguably the last in the line of the great English-oriented clarinet players - Reginald Kell, Jack Brymer and Bernard Walton. Khouri’s sound and musicianship embody qualities now almost swept away in the tide of international anonymity. He is a guardian of the “Lyric School” of clarinet playing - a sound of perfect legato suppleness and sweetness.

As Murray says: "Engaging with my audiences has always been a high priority for me."

Writing in the International Clarinet Magazine, Kenneth Radnofsky said:
"I am always looking for the 'spark behind the eyes' that Gunther Schuller told us he looked for in the most committed musicians. Murray Khouri's eyes light up the room"

Concert-goer William Bentley agrees:
"Your recital was an inspiring experience. It will be long remembered by me and my family. It was the first time any of us had heard the clarinet played as a solo instrument. It was a moving experience."

 

Performer

I regularly play recital programmes in Australasia, the USA, Asia and Europe. Nothing can compare to live music, or to the great acoustics of the many venues in which I've played.

• The Wigmore Hall, with its special atmosphere.

• Broadcasting House in London, rich in history and in sound.

• St Johns Smith Square, opulent to the eye and fulsome of acoustic.

• I am fortunate too, to have luxuriated in the refined sonorous tones of Carnegie Hall and the Kranert Auditorium at the University of Illinois.

I have received rave reviews in Gramophone, Diapason, American Record Guide and a whole host of newspapers. My recording of the two Brahms Sonatas was rated best version in France and best English version on the BBC.

I've had a close association with Joseph Horowitz, John McCabe and Ernest Tomlinson, programming their music, together with works by Arthur Benjamin, Malcolm Arnold and Gerald Finzi.

I have over 100 works in my repertoire - wonderful music waiting to be enjoyed.

My Instrument

Clarinets, Howarth, London Model S2
Reeds, Reeds Australia, Vintage, XL File-cut 3:5
Ligature, Vandoren
Mouthpiece, Ed Pillinger

 Broadcaster

I have delivered over eighty spoken word music broadcasts for the BBC, ABC and Radio New Zealand. Naturally, this has influenced and enhanced my recital work and skill in programming.

 

Producer

British music has been my particular passion. The world-wide revival of British Light Music began with the world-famous 20CD series I masterminded for Marco Polo.

 

Festival Director

As Artistic Director of several music festivals, I know how important it is to get to know the special qualities that mark out each and every artist.

I offer The Festival Experience - programmes arranged to suit. Past successes have included the Wanganui Spring Music Festival, The Bowral Autumn Music Festival, The Manning Valley Festival of the Arts and the Festival of the Western Winds.

See The Festival Experience page for details.