Ralph Murray and the Founding of the Pittsburgh Gospel Choir
During a 2006 trip to Charleston, South Carolina, Pittsburgh businessman Ralph Murray and his wife Pat happened to attend a performance of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra Gospel Choir. What they saw and heard there delighted and inspired them: a joyful, energetic performance, with an enthusiastic and diverse audience, celebrating the uniquely American gospel tradition.
The Murrays were captivated. Enlisting the help of Charleston Symphony president Lee Pringle, Mr. Murray began to plan how he could help bring this transformative experience to the arts community in Pittsburgh.
As the longtime chairman of Murrysville-based marketing and manufacturing firm IDL Worldwide and a nationally-recognized advocate for small business, Mr. Murray was a skilled leader and project planner. He acted quickly to gather luminaries of Pittsburgh's cultural community around his cause. Many recognized, as he had, the potential for a community-based gospel choir to build community connections, inspire audiences, and make a meaningful contribution to quality of life in the city. David Newell, TV's "Mr. McFeely" and director of public relations at Family Communications; Thomas Douglas, music director of the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh; and legendary jazz guitarist Joe Negri formed the advisory board of the new organization.
Per Mr. Murray's vision, the choir's mission was simple and direct: unite diverse performers and audiences with performances of uplifting music. Make each singer or listener feel like members of a family. And above all, cause every audience member to leave with a smile on their face.
The board advertised for a music director. Through Kris Rust, choir director at Franklin Regional High School, they met and unanimously selected Dr. Herbert V.R.P. Jones, an internationally-recognized performer, scholar and pedagogue.
Recognizing that the new organization would need funding and administrative support to fulfill its potential, Mr. Murray and Dr. Jones met with the artistic leadership of the River City Brass Band, a fixture of Pittsburgh's nonprofit and performing arts communities since 1981. In early 2008, the band agreed to take on the new Pittsburgh Gospel Choir as a special project.
On November 15, 2008, the Pittsburgh Gospel Choir made its debut to enthusiastic popular response and critical acclaim. The capacity crowd at Pittsburgh's historic East Liberty Presbyterian Church cheered as the choir was joined by Mr. Negri, the River City Brass Band and All Nations Dance.
Mr. Murray passed away in February of 2009, leaving as part of his enormous legacy the burgeoning success of the Pittsburgh Gospel Choir. In the months since his passing, the choir has grown to comprise 65 members and has performed dozens of concerts for thousands of enthusiastic people across the eastern United States.
The Pittsburgh Gospel Choir family is grateful for Mr. Murray's passion and vision, skill and determination. We are grateful also to Pat Murray and the rest of the Murray family for their ongoing love, support and enthusiasm.
Each time an audience member leaves a Pittsburgh Gospel Choir concert wearing a smile and humming a tune, they have Mr. Murray to thank. And so do we.