Shawn Murphy is in his sixth year directing orchestras at Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he feels incredibly lucky to work with such dedicated and inspiring students. Under his direction, Rocky’s full symphony orchestra was selected to perform at the American String Teachers Association’s National Orchestra Festival in Orlando, Florida, earning 2nd Place in the Full Symphony Division—a proud and unforgettable moment! In January, Mr. Murphy was honored as Colorado ASTA’s Outstanding String Teacher of the Year, a recognition he deeply values. Prior to his time at Rocky, he spent six wonderful years leading the orchestras at Thompson Valley High School and Walt Clark Middle School in Loveland, and began his teaching career with both middle and high school ensembles in Afton, Wyoming, followed by three years at Kinard Middle School in Fort Collins. Mr. Murphy is an active guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator across Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah, and loves the energy and collaboration that comes with working at festivals and honor ensembles. He also serves on the faculty at Camp Con Brio—an annual highlight—and has held leadership roles on both the Colorado ASTA Board and the Colorado All-State Orchestra Board. He holds a BME in Instrumental Music Education and a Master of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. Shawn and his wife, Amy, spent a year living in Germany, where they studied German at the Goethe Institute and Universität Leipzig, and music at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Leipzig. The Murphys—Shawn, Amy, and their son Ben—make their home in Fort Collins, where there’s usually music playing and a violin or two out of its case.