Roger McMurrin

Roger Grant McMurrin (August 7, 1939 – December 13, 2023) was an American conductor and Presbyterian pastor who moved to Ukraine and founded a symphony orchestra there to perform sacred music.

Early life McMurrin was born in Bedford, Indiana. As a youth he moved to Xenia, Ohio. He earned a degree in music from Olivet Nazarene University and became a teacher at Xenia High School. He then earned a master's degree from Ohio State University. He later became a music instructor at a college where he also studied conducting techniques.

Musical career

United States McMurrin began his music career in 1972 at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and later became its director of music. After 16 years at Coral Ridge, McMurrin left to become director of music at Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas and then moved on to First Presbyterian Church in Orlando, Florida.

McMurrin had also performed on Diane Bish's The Joy of Music, including as part of the Coral Ridge choir during an episode about the life of John Wesley.

Ukraine In 1991, McMurrin was invited to Kiev, Ukraine by Episcopal priest George McCammon to conduct local musicians in a performance of Georg Friedrich Händel's Messiah. McMurrin had initially planned to go to the Caribbean and was familiar with Kiev only from The Great Gate of Kiev from Pictures at an Exhibition. McMurrin conducted the musicians in performing two concerts, in which Messiah was performed for the first time in Ukraine in 70 years. During the plane ride back to the United States, McMurrin felt that God wanted him to move to Ukraine.

Personal life McMurrin was the son of the Reverend Albert McMurrin. McMurrin was a Christian and an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church. He was married and had two sons.