Pathway Explorer Profile: Liam Murphy
Posted on Thursday, May 5th, 2016
Liam Murphy’s dream job features him centre stage on Broadway.
It’s a big ambition, but the Grade 12 St. Peter Catholic High School student is taking it one step at a time.
“I still have a long, long, long way to go before I can even dream of that, and a lot of things to learn,” said Murphy. “But that’s the hope.”
One of the leads in Evita and Annie in his high school musical theatre program, Murphy taught himself how to sing and has a good ear, but he couldn’t read music. That’s part of what brought him to the Voice course in the dual credit program at the college. The class provides an introduction to music theory, essential knowledge for theatre performers, while developing his vocal skills.
“In the vocal aspect, my instructor, Doreen [Taylor-Claxton], has given me a lot of good feedback and pointers, so I’ve been able to explore more things vocally than I had before,” said Murphy.
Murphy is succeeding with an A+ in the course and has his next step already planned out — in the Fall, he will be attending St. Lawrence College in Brockville for Music Theatre Performance, where the dual credit credit will apply to a first-level course.
After three years at St. Lawrence, Murphy hopes to begin life as a working performer.
“The best of the best get to broadway, but I want to get work. I want to be financially stable and sustain myself with a career in theatre.”
– Liam Murphy, Dual Credit Student
The long-term vision is important, Murphy says, but he is focused on the here-and-now process of learning his craft more than he is on the end goal.
“Right now I’m hoping to hone what I already have and learn new things,” said Murphy. “Hopefully I’ll be doing auditions for bigger shows later in life.”
About Academic Partnerships:
Pathway Building since 2006. Academic Partnerships works with a comprehensive network of Pathway Builders (community, educational and government stakeholders) to create and deliver on a variety of experiential opportunities to be a college student through hands-on, curriculum-driven experiences for Pathway Explorers (students in grade 7 – 12). With a commitment to the dream development and pathway finding for students prior to starting full-time studies the team has programming at Algonquin College’s three Ontario Campuses: Ottawa, Pembroke, and Perth. For more information visit: algonquincollege.com/ap
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