Robert Murphy (7)

Robert A. Murphy (b. 11 October 1961, Trumansburg, NY) is an American piano and harpsichord technician, an Associate Director of Piano Technology & Curator of Historical Keyboard Instruments at The Oberlin Conservatory Of Music in Oberlin, Ohio. Murphy began apprenticing at Edward E. Swenson's restoration workshop in his hometown, Trumansburg, at fourteen; Robert spent over 12 years trained by his first mentor. In 1984, Robert Murphy graduated from Ithaca College with his Bachelor of Music Education degree. He apprenticed in Massachusetts with renowned maker Eric Herz (1919—2002), one of the pillars of the "Boston School of harpsichord building," for three years. As a trained College and University Technician (CAUT), Robert Murphy worked at Michigan State and Cornell University, preparing pianos and historical instruments, like early fortepianos and harpsichords, for live performances and studio recordings. He maintained grand pianos at prominent US concert venues over 25 years, such as Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Avery Fisher Hall and Alice Tully Hall in New York City, and Orchestra Hall, Chicago. After joining the Oberlin faculty, Murphy has served as an instructor at the annual "C.F. Theodore Steinway Technical Academy" at Oberlin Summer Workshops since 2004 and regularly presents at regional and national conferences on tuning, maintaining, and restoring antique fortepianos and harpsichords.