Mission Statement

As the preeminent community orchestra in the metropolitan area, the Northland Symphony Orchestra offers professional, community and student musicians an opportunity to perform fine orchestral music and Free public concerts. The performances are designed to appeal to diverse audiences. As a cultural asset to the Northland area, the Northland Symphony Orchestra, in cooperation with other performing arts organizations, supports and augments the area's economic development.

 

James Murray III, Conductor

Currently, Mr. Murray serves as Music Director and Conductor of the Northland Symphony Orchestra (Kansas City, MO), Heritage Philharmonic (Eastern Jackson County, MO) and the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of Kansas City, an ensemble that he founded in 1997.

Praised by the Kansas City Star for repertoire that “betrays an inventive sense of fun”, Mr. Murray’s formal training includes a Bachelors Degree in Music Performance from William Jewell College and a Masters Degree in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Denver. Workshop master teachers include Paul Vermel, Samuel Jones, Samuel Adler, Victoria Bond and Donald Portnoy.

His guest conductor appearances include the Kansas City Cello Ensemble, St. Louis All-Suburban Orchestra, Liberty Symphony Chamber Orchestra, William Jewell College Opera (Liberty, MO), and the Centennial Philharmonic (Denver, CO). Increasingly in demand as a clinician, Jim has served as an adjudicator for the Kansas and Missouri State High School Activities Associations, as well as for numerous other festivals and workshops.

Off the podium, Jim is the Music Coordinator and an Instructor of Music at the Metropolitan Community College—Maple Woods. He teaches a full load of classes including Music Appreciation and Music of the World’s Cultures. Jim represents the Maple Woods campus as an elected member of the Faculty Senate. In 2009 he was one of eighteen educators to receive the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Outside the classroom and concert hall, Jim and his wife, Nicole, pursue the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the country. At the start of this orchestral season, Jim has ridden 145 different roller coasters. He lags behind his wife who has chalked up 155 different roller coasters. Both rate Millennium Force at Cedar Point in Ohio as their favorite coaster.