We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Christopher Murphy a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Christopher, thrilled to have you on the platform as I think our readers can really benefit from your insights and experiences. In particular, we’d love to hear about how you think about burnout, avoiding or overcoming burnout, etc.
I’m very fortunate to maintain a very active performing schedule on top of my career as an educator and as a father. While I’m glad to have the opportunities that I do, it can be quite taxing to be constantly on the move. This has led me to feeling burned out a number of times, which makes it difficult to do even the simplest daily tasks. In those times, I’ve been fortunate to come out the other end and get myself back on track by using my support system.
The most important thing in my life is the people around me. My wife, my parents, my friends – all of them contribute positively to my life and career goals, and when I’m going through struggles, I lean on them to support me. When the load is too much to bear on my own, I am able to rely on my support system to help me pick up the slack. This relationship is always mutual, as I do the same thing for my people when they are in need. The community we have built always seems to support itself! It is never a weakness to ask for help, and to acknowledge when there are things that are just too much for you to handle right now – that doesn’t make you any less competent!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a freelance musician, arranger/composer, father, educator, and coach. I specialize in performing for high energy bands that play public and private events. I have a strong background in Salsa music, which is my biggest passion. I’ve recorded with Austin-based band Combo Chévere, of which I am a founding member. I am also a middle school music teacher and football coach in Austin. I get to mix my passions of performing and educating every day which lead to a very fulfilling life. Along with performing for various bands in Austin, I also started my own group with my best friend Tivo, named Two’s a Party. We began performing just over a year ago and in that time have established a small foothold along the I-35 corridor, and have even written our first original song. We are looking to release an EP to stream for late 2026!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I would say three of the most important qualities I’ve developed on my journey is mastery of my craft, building relationships, and exuding empathy. Any artist must develop a mastery of their craft to a certain extent. Talent isn’t everything when it comes to performing, but being a master on your instrument is the cornerstone to almost any successful musician. The hours that you spend honing your sound and technique will no doubt be tedious, but will prove to be invaluable when you are finding your way into the music scene.
After you develop your sound and can demonstrate your competency at a consistent level, it’s almost equally important to build strong relationships. As I’ve touched on earlier, I couldn’t be successful without the people in my circle. Aside from your family and friends, building relationships with bandmates, work colleagues, other artists – and anyone in between that you meet – is essential to the success of almost any artist. I love building relationships with people because I think having a strong community makes the world better for everyone involved. These friendships can be great for you personally, but professionally they can allow your craft to be seen by more people. It helps to be in-network with other creatives, because when they are in need of someone with your skillset, they can call you (and vise versa when you need someone)!
Finally, I like to lead all of my interactions and relationships with empathy. I treat everyone the way I hope to be treated, so that way everyone can feel seen, heard, and appreciated. I believe empathy is of the utmost importance in today’s social climate, and it’s something I use in all interactions. If you take time to consider other people’s feelings, emotions, thoughts and cares, it leads to stronger bonds and a greater sense of community!
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
My family and friends are the linchpin to my growth. My parents, my amazing wife Denise (who is also an amazing singer), and my friends are all confidants and trusted individuals that I can go to when I’m faced with a challenge or task that is too much for just me to handle. I learned so many valuable lessons from my parents growing up, and I learn new lessons every day on how to be a better partner, father, and musician from my wife. I consider myself a lifelong learner, and I’m always learning new skills that are essential to my growth as a creative and person.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://murphytrombonemusic.weebly.com/?mibextid=Zxz2cZ
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murphy.trombone/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-murphy-511712225
- Other: https://linktr.ee/chris.murphy?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=d06fd224-0d36-4ecb-ad3c-bf0be94f33e5&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnO01Z50Hab4YqiTWkoGjV-OLsZg9mWEwcnzudaWyx2FGvdeWeOZIA8Gv9m90_aem_vmXipRJj1lXrHaVNbzfdvQ
Image Credits
Brandie Cavazos, Chris Murphy, Eric Booth, Anna Schultz, Azariah Reese
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
