Violist and Alumnus Dimitri Murrath Returns to New England Conservatory as Associate Dean of Artistic Administration and Faculty Member

New England Conservatory is pleased to announce that violist and alumnus Dimitri Murrath ’08 AD has returned to the Conservatory as Associate Dean of Artistic Administration and as a member of its distinguished viola faculty. An internationally acclaimed performer and experienced educator, Murrath earned an Artist Diploma at NEC and previously taught at the Conservatory for nearly a decade.

“When I arrived here as a viola student more than 20 years ago, I could not imagine how transformative those two years would be,” Murrath said. “My teacher at the time, Kim Kashkashian, has been a deep influence and mentor. She helped me find my voice on the viola and as an artist. During those years, I also drew inspiration from the Chamber Music Department, legendary faculty (most of whom are still here), and other students who became friends and regular collaborators. NEC was also where I began to teach viola, and I saw firsthand the dedication and curiosity of the students here, as well as the transformative progress they can make while studying here.”

Murrath appreciates and champions NEC’s commitment to holistically preparing students for professional lives in a fast- and ever-changing cultural landscape.

“Increasingly,” he said, “the demands of a music career are many. This requires each student to strive to be a complete musician while also navigating the practical matters of the world, keeping in mind their place as a citizen-artist, and asking how they can make a positive impact on their community through their music and artistry. NEC helped me understand those sides of being a musician.”

“Dimitri’s return to NEC exemplifies the many ways our students can envision leadership in the arts,” Hank Mou, NEC’s Dean and Chief Artistic Officer, said. “In addition to his accomplishments as an artist and teacher, Dimitri now serves as an administrative leader in his role as Associate Dean. We hope his example, and those of our other faculty, will inspire our students to see themselves not only as exceptional artists, but also as future leaders in their fields, and to recognize the diverse professional pathways their education at NEC can open to them.”

Murrath will teach a limited number of students to accommodate his administrative responsibilities.

Murrath has performed as a recitalist and soloist at venues around the world including Wigmore Hall and Royal Festival Hall in London; Suntory and Kioi Hall in Tokyo; and Théâtre de la Ville in Paris.

Murrath won first prize at the Primrose International Viola Competition and has received top prizes at the Tokyo International Viola Competition. He received a 2014 Avery Fisher Career Grant and in 2017 released his debut solo album, which features works by Henri Vieuxtemps, Rebecca Clarke, and Paul Hindemith. 

As a soloist, he has played with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Orchestre National de Lille, Brussels Philharmonic, and Tokyo Metropolitan Orchestra.

An active chamber musician, Murrath has been a member of the Esmé Quartet since 2023 and was a member of the Boston Chamber Music Society from 2013 to 2023. He has collaborated with such esteemed musicians as Richard Goode, Gidon Kremer, Menahem Pressler, and Mitsuko Uchida, as well as members of the Cleveland, Mendelssohn, and Guarneri quartets. 

Murrath began his musical studies with Natalia Boyarsky at the Yehudi Menuhin School before earning a Bachelor of Music degree at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where he studied with David Takeno. He went on to earn an Artist Diploma from NEC, where he studied with Kim Kashkashian.

About New England Conservatory (NEC)

Founded by Eben Tourjée in Boston, Massachusetts in 1867, the New England Conservatory (NEC) represents a new model of music school that combines the best of European tradition with American innovation. The school stands at the center of Boston’s rich cultural history and musical life, presenting concerts at the renowned Jordan Hall. Propelled by profound artistry, bold creativity, and deep compassion, NEC seeks to amplify musicians’ impact on advancing our shared humanity and empowers students to meet today’s changing world head-on, equipped with the tools and confidence to forge multidimensional lives of artistic depth and relevance.

The Conservatory’s roster of alumni includes hundreds of music's most influential artists. That list includes Coretta Scott King, Florence Price, Tessa Lark, George Li, Inmo Yang, Yura Lee, Stefan Jackiw, Anthony Leon, Erica Petrocelli, Minsoo Sohn, Cecil Taylor, and Denyce Graves.

As an independent, not-for-profit institution that educates and trains musicians of all ages from around the world, NEC is recognized internationally as a leader among music schools. It cultivates a diverse, dynamic community, providing music students of more than 40 countries with performance opportunities and high-caliber training from 225 internationally esteemed artist-teachers and scholars. 

NEC pushes the boundaries of music-making and teaching through college-level training in classical, jazz and contemporary musical arts. The newly launched Institute for Concert Artists propels young artists to the heights of their careers. Through unique interdisciplinary programs such as Entrepreneurial Musicianship and Community Performances & Partnerships, it empowers students to create their own musical opportunities. As part of NEC’s mission to make lifelong music education available to everyone, NEC’s Expanded Education delivers training and performance opportunities for children, pre-college students and adults.

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