Ian A. Murrell

Class of 2016, Music Performance, Voice

After graduating from the University of Evansville, Ian was accepted into the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music to pursue a master's degree in music performance specializing in opera. This quickly led to a national award. In 2018-2019 he was awarded the American Prize in Vocal Performance (men/opera/collegiate division). This is a national award recognizing achievement in the arts.

Ian has a deep love for music and decided early in his undergraduate career that he wanted to pursue performing. After performing in an opera at the University of Evansville, he realized vocal performance would be the career track he would follow. After his initial performance, Ian became an active performer in the UE Opera series.

As a student at the University of Evansville, Ian enjoyed the size of the University, mentioning there seemed to be a familiar face around every corner. He also appreciated the helpfulness of the faculty and staff stating that his major classes and his general education courses allowed him to become a better, well-rounded individual. When asked if he liked Evansville he exclaimed, “It felt like home as soon as I set foot on the campus, and the community-at-large was just as welcoming. I felt very comfortable to be a part of the community.”

Since graduating, Ian has been hailed as a "powerful" and "resonant baritone" by Indiana Public Media. Murrell has quickly acquired several operatic and musical theatre credits with both professional and educational institutions. Role credits include Enrico Aston in Indiana University Opera Theatre's production of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, Harry Bailey in Jake Heggie's It's A Wonderful Life with IU Opera Theatre, Ned Keene in Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes with IU Opera Theatre, Count Gil in Ermano Wolf-Ferrari's Il segreto di Susanna with University of Evansville's Schmidt Opera Series, Bob in Gian Carlo Menotti's The Old Maid and the Thief, and Papageno in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, each with University of Evansville's Schmidt Opera Series. He has also portrayed Yamadori in Puccini's Madama Butterfly in a staged production with the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra. Ian is an alumnus of the Asheville Lyric Opera young artist program, Aspen Music Festival and School, and most recently the Chautauqua Opera Company Studio Artist Program where he performed as a Judge and the Prefect while covering Maximilian in Leonard Bernstein's Candide. Mr. Murrell also covered the role of Hannah Before in Laura Kaminsky's chamber opera, As One, while appearing on several concerts and recitals at the Chautauqua Institution.