The San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) today announces the appointment of violist Dimitri Murrath as a full-time faculty member beginning in Fall 2017. Regarded as one of the most accomplished violists of his generation, Murrath received an Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2014 and won first prize at the Primrose International Viola Competition in 2008, in addition to many other accolades. He comes to SFCM from Boston, where he has taught at the New England Conservatory since 2009.

“Dimitri Murrath is an artist and teacher of singular distinction,” says SFCM President David H. Stull. “He is an inspiring presence on the stage and in the studio, and his curiosity and enthusiasm are contagious. He will be a tremendous resource for our students and I look forward to welcoming him to our community.”

“I am thrilled to be joining the faculty of SFCM,” says Dimitri Murrath. “From my first visit to the school, I was impressed by the creativity and energy of the students. The conservatory's strong background in chamber music is another one of the many reasons I am excited to join this institution. I look forward to working with the students, colleagues, and staff to create beautiful music.”

Murrath performs regularly as a soloist and chamber musician in venues including Boston’s Jordan Hall, the Kennedy Center, Wigmore Hall, Royal Festival Hall, and others. His festival appearances include those at IMS Prussia Cove, Ravinia, Verbier, Caramoor, Bridgehampton, and Marlboro. He has performed concertos with orchestras from around the world, including the Orchestre National de Lille, Toho Gakuen Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic, Brussels Philharmonic, and London Mozart Players.

In addition to receiving an Avery Fisher Career Grant and the top prize at the Primrose Competition, Murrath’s other awards include second prize at the First Tokyo International Viola Competition, the special prize for a contemporary work at the ARD Munich Competition, and a fellowship from the Belgian American Educational Foundation. In 2012, he was named laureate of the Juventus Festival, an award recognizing young European soloists.

With repertoire extending from Bach to modern and contemporary music by Ligeti, Kurtág, and Sciarrino, Murrath is an enthusiastic supporter and performer of new works. He has taken part in the Park Lane Group New Year Series in London to critical acclaim, and has commissioned, premiered, and recorded several solo works.

An avid chamber musician, Murrath has been a member of the Boston Chamber Music Society and Mistral Music. He has collaborated with Miriam Fried, Pamela Frank, Richard Goode, Gidon Kremer, Menahem Pressler, Mitsuko Uchida, and members of the Mendelssohn, Takács, Guarneri, Cleveland, Jerusalem, and Juilliard string quartets.

Murrath began his musical education at the Yehudi Menuhin School studying with Natalia Boyarsky and went on to work with David Takeno at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. He graduated with an Artist Diploma from the New England Conservatory as a student of Kim Kashkashian. Murrath is on the faculty of the Bowdoin International Music Festival.

Murrath participates in the Music for Food project, a social justice initiative which raises awareness of the hunger problem faced by a large percentage of the population, working with hunger relief organizations, musicians, and performing arts organizations to help end hunger in local communities.