FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 24, 2013
BLOOMINGTON, Ind — The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music is pleased to announce that double bassist Kurt Muroki will join its faculty as professor of music in the fall of 2013.
“Kurt’s diverse musical background, passion for teaching, knowledge and experience in multiple performance and recording environments make him the ideal person to educate and prepare young, talented performers for careers in the modern era,” said Gwyn Richards, dean of the Jacobs School. “We are thrilled that Bloomington now becomes his home and our students become the focus of his pedagogical efforts.”
“I am delighted to begin as a professor at the Jacobs School of Music,” said Muroki. “It has been my lifelong commitment to teach, and what better place to be living my dream than surrounded by such esteemed faculty and wonderfully talented students?”
“The String Department is thrilled to be joined by Kurt Muroki,” said department chair Stephen Wyrczynski. “His virtuosity and musicianship are matched only by his incredible dedication to teaching.”
“Kurt Muroki is a great musician and a fantastic teacher, and I couldn’t be happier with our choice,” said Bruce Bransby, professor of double bass at the Jacobs School. “The students really respond to his positive attitude and energetic teaching style, and they are excited to know that he will soon join the faculty.”
A diverse artist and teacher of international standing, Muroki is a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and has performed with the Jupiter Chamber Players, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, New York City Ballet, 92nd Street Y and Bargemusic. His festivals appearances include the Marlboro Music Festival, Festival L’Autonne at IRCAM, Bowdoin International Music Festival, and Aspen Music Festival. He has collaborated with the Guarneri, Juilliard and Tokyo quartets, among others, and has performed concerto tours throughout Asia and the United States.
Muroki is also active playing on soundtracks for commercials and movies, including the Oscar-winning film “The Departed,” “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” “Julie and Julia” and “Moonrise Kingdom.” He has collaborated on albums and live concerts including projects with such artists as The Who, Sting, Peter Gabriel and Itzhak Perlman.
A native of Maui, Hawaii, he began his musical studies on the violin before studying double bass with Homer R. Mensch at The Juilliard School. He has won numerous competitions, including first prize in the Aspen Music Festival double bass competition and the Honolulu Symphony Young Artists competition. He was the first bassist to win the New World Symphony concerto competition.
Muroki is currently on the faculty at the Bowdoin International Music Festival, the State University of New York Stony Brook, and the McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University. A former faculty member at The Juilliard School, he is on the board of directors of the International Society of Bassists and is a D’Addario Strings Artist. Muroki plays a double bass once owned by the famous double bassist Domenico Dragonetti and attributed to Nicolò Amati circa 1665.
