Semaj Murphy, Violin

Semaj is honored to be a Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth (PMAY) and Primavera Fund Artist and is exhilarated for his future musical journey.

Semaj Murphy began studying the violin at the age of 9 in his elementary school music program then later at The Settlement Music School studying under Abigail Nixon. He is currently a Senior at the Girard Academic Music Program (GAMP) and studies with Amy Oshiro-Morales, of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He is also currently participating in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, All-City High School Orchestra, and is a member of the Snitzer quartet at Settlement Music School.  

In the summer of 2016, Semaj was accepted into the Primavera Fund. Through the support of the Primavera Fund, Semaj participated in the Philadelphia Young Musicians Orchestra, Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, Settlement Music School Chamber Music, and attended his first camp at the Philadelphia International Music Festival (PIMF) in 2017. In his Sophomore year, he participated in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 12 festival Orchestra and was a finalist in the All-City concerto competition. Semaj has participated in prestigious summer festivals such as Sphinx Performance Academy at Curtis Institute of Music, National Youth Orchestra 2 (NYO2), and the Tanglewood (BUTI). Semaj has played in master classes taught by the world’s most prominent violinists, such as Mai-Chen Liao-Barnes, Rachel Barton Pine, and Elmar Oliveira. He has also played with the Piano Guys at the Met. 

Semaj will begin his college journey this fall at the University of Southern California as a student of Lina Bahn.