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Biography
Klearhos Murphy is a Greek-Australian composer who specialises in composing and arranging music for symphonic and chamber music settings, drawing from Western Art, Byzantine chant and Greek-folk traditions.
Ensembles he has worked with national and international ensembles such as the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, West Australia Symphony Orchestra, Perth Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Pops Orchestra, Willoughby Symphony Orchestra and the WAAPA Symphony Orchestra.
Klearhos is also interested in music education and research, regularly holding workshops, consultations and tutorials for tertiary students.
In 2017, Klearhos won the WAAPA Symphony Orchestra Composition Competition, and in 2018, he participated in the WASO Composition Project, winning the Bendat Family Foundation scholarship.​​​
In 2021, Klearhos coordinated, performed in and conducted Henousia: Graduation Recital, where his piece "Henousia Cantata" won the ROSL Award for Best Composition.
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In 2022, Klearhos formed a band with Callum O'Reilly under the name "Erka Blasa", and they released several singles on streaming services.​
​ 2023 saw Klearhos enter into the Master of Music (Research) course at Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, where he began utilising Eastern Orthodox theology, Greek philosophy and Greek music as conceptual bases for the creation of new works for orchestra and chamber ensembles. Additionally, his keen interest in music education led him to tutor highschool students and to take a position as a tutor at Janet Clarke Hall and The University of Melbourne, focussing on music history, music theory and orchestration.
In 2024, he participated in "Saruya Artists Residency" in Fujiyama, Japan. In that same year, Klearhos had his work "Ikon of Nipsis" premiered by the MSO as part of their "Cybec 21st Century Australian Composers' Program". In the same year, he participated in Omega Ensemble's CoLAB: Composer Accelerator Program and Ensemble Offspring's Hatched Academy, with both programs featuring world premieres at the Sydney Opera House.
This year, Klearhos has been working closely with the MSO as their Cyber Young Composer in Residence, Ensemble Offspring as part of their Hatched Academy Alumni Commission, and the Australian Hellenic Choir.
​ Throughout his career, Klearhos has been fortunate enough to receive numerous awards and scholarships for his work in music, including the WAAPA Symphony Orchestra Composition Competition, St. Mary's Composition Competition, Bendat Family Foundation scholarship, ROSL Award for Best Composition, JCH Society Scholarship, the Kenneth Moore Memorial Music Scholarship and the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra Young Composer Award.
