Chenoa Murphy

Chenoa Murphy’s musical journey began in Memphis, TN, where she attended her first classical music concert at age two. This experience ignited her passion for music and led her mother to enroll her in violin lessons at age three through the Suzuki Method.

Over the next 50-plus years, she excelled in violin and vocal studies, attending Overton High School of Performing Arts and participating in prestigious summer programs such as the Aspen Music Festival. Chenoa earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Violin Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and pursued doctoral studies at the University of Iowa under renowned instructors, including Kurt Sassmannshaus, Paul Kantor, and Dorothy DeLay.

Beyond performing, she is an educator and DEI facilitator who promotes the contributions of Black classical composers. Her courses—Introduction to Black Classical Composers & Musicians, Black Classical Composers: The Journey Onward, and Diversity from the Inside Out—as well as her article in the American Suzuki Journal (Summer 2025), highlight her advocacy work and have been well received nationally and internationally.

Currently living in Springfield, IL, she has taught gifted elementary students and fourth grade, holds principal positions in multiple orchestras, and is a tenured member of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. She balances these roles while being a devoted mother of two and continues to gain recognition for her contributions to classical music and education.