Noreen Murdock

Noreen was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She graduated from Willamette University in 2005 with a BA in Music, Magna cum Laude and with Music Department Honors. During her undergraduate at Willamette she studied with Dr. Anita King, and performed solo piano as well as two-piano literature with colleague Ian Scarfe. Other activities include the Ernest Bloch Festival in Newport, Oregon in June 2004 with Ian Scarfe, Chamber Music Workshop in Port Townsend, Washington in June 2006 hosted by the renowned Cypress String Quartet, and master classes with Ilya Itin and Wu Han.

As a student she was highly requested as an accompanist, and she played for many student soloists, Voce Femminile, Male Ensemble Willamette, Chamber Choir, and was an accompanist/coach for the Dramatic Vocal Arts class. Noreen continues to work with the Dramatic Vocal Arts program under the direction of Allison Swensen-Mitchell.

Noreen has been an accompanist for the Willamette Girlchoir, a private girls chorus directed by Caren Jensen, since January 2005. In addition to her accompanying duties there, Noreen will assume some teaching responsibilities for the 2006-2007 year. Noreen has also been a guest vocal coach/section leader and accompanist for North Salem High School choirs.

Noreen is a soprano and particularly enjoys accompanying vocalists. She has sung with Voce Femminile and Chamber Choir, served as section leader in both groups, and currently sings with the Willamette Master Chorus. She studied with Janice Johnson and Allison Swensen-Mitchell.

Aside from being a musician, Noreen is also interested in Arts Administration. Currently she is the Orchestra Manager for the Salem Chamber Orchestra. She was the Administrative Assistant for the Grace Goudy Distinguished Artists Series for two years, and was the Administrator for the Series during 2005-2006. Noreen also held an administrative internship with the renowned Glimmerglass Opera Festival in summer 2005. In 2004-2005, she was President of the Willamette chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon, a Professional International Music Fraternity, and continues to be the faculty advisor.