Biography
...not simply a well structured orchestration but an emotive work which embodied the composer’s personal connection to the music...The winning composer’s piece is selected based on its artistic merit, innovation, and overall impact, all highly evidenced in today’s premiere by Murphy."
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Pepe Newton, classikON
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 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 secondary and tertiary students interested in learning more about music.
From straight ahead classical orchestrations to incredibly unique, challenging world projects and modern contemporary charts, [Klearhos has] continually delivered high quality arrangements in a timely manner. Smart and creative..."
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Jessica Gethin, Conductor for West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Perth Symphony Orchestra
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.
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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 that same year, he participated in "Saruya Artists Residency" in Fujiyama, Japan, along with dancer/choreographer Khia Emslie-O'Brien and marine biologist Antoine Minne. In early 2024, Klearhos had his work "Ikon of Nipsis" premiered by the MSO as part of their "Cybec 21st Century Australian Composers' Program".
...Murphy demonstrated a gripping command of orchestral colour. Opening with, and often returning to more static ambient textures, I often found myself wondering quite how he was achieving quite a unique sound-world...the ending was perhaps the most beautiful moment of the entire night..."
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Kieran Welch, LIMELIGHT
Klearhos Murphy certainly deserves to be in repertoires of choirs and orchestras everywhere."
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Tony Howes, Chairman ROSL WA
With the MSO represented by a team of 26 musicians, all orchestral colours were fully represented and well balanced...Moments of calm, contemplation and questioning were felt through traditional modal and liturgical open harmonies – most colourful...I found this piece to be a richly coloured and effective musical incarnation."
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Julie McErlain, Classic Melbourne
As an arranger, Klearhos has collaborated with PSO to arrange music for ECU's "Under the Stars" concert series (2017). In 2018, he worked with PSO and Ian Kenny to co-arrange “Plans” for the “WA of the Year Awards”. In 2019, he co-arranged the music for PSO's concert "Love Him Madly: The Doors Reimagined", and since then, he has worked with them on their "Reimagined" series, including "Sweet Dreaming: Eurythmics Reimagined" (2020) and "Nothing Compares: The Music of Prince" (2021).
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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.