Meet our instructors

Co-Founder & Award-Winning Music Director

Joe Murphy is a native of the peninsula and has been teaching for over 20 years. He graduated from California State University, Northridge with a degree in Tuba Performance. Joe was a freelance musician working in the greater Los Angeles and Santa Barbara areas while teaching at La Canada High/Middle School and Agoura High School. In 2005, Joe and his family moved back to the SF Bay Area to teach band at Tierra Linda Middle School in San Carlos. Joe put his own spin on the program and the bands were award-winning during every year of his tenure at Tierra Linda.  

In 2021, Joe made the very tough decision to leave Tierra Linda and become the Music Director at Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo where he teaches band, jazz band, two choirs and a digital production class.  

Joe has been involved with digital music and recording since he was in high school. As a hobbyist, Joe enjoyed making music in his uncle’s basement studio. Here, he learned the art of mixing, recording, editing and mastering. Since then, Joe has worked as a private recording engineer and producer for many soloist, small groups and large bands. In addition to recording, he is also an engineer/DJ for live music events, weddings and parties.

Joe also maintains a large private studio of which many have received high honors. He has taught over 200 students privately and has had over 100 students selected to the All State Bands. Recently, the top middle school trombonist, top middle school tuba player and top freshman trombonist were all from Joe’s private studio.

You may also find Joe playing/conducting/acting in the local theater scene. He has worked with companies such as the Hillbarn Theatre, Broadway by the Bay, San Carlos Children's Theater and Coastal Repertory Theater.  

Lilliana is a native of the San Francisco Peninsula and has recently graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY with a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts. She has been working with Murphy Music Camps for the past four years. The past two years she has been a counselor and prior to that an intern for 2 years. She was part of the very first Murphy Music Camp when she was in 7th grade! Lilliana specializes in playing the Flute, an instrument she has studied for 13 years, as well as voice which she studied for 6 years. She is self-trained in guitar, bass, Garageband and iMovie.

A California native, Aidan has proved himself to be a hardworking and passionate musician, working with musical groups of all ages. He studied with Dr. Wendell Hanna for 7 years before continuing his studies at Oberlin Conservatory with Drew Pattison. For his conducting studies, Aidan was a student of Mitchell Sardou Klein, but has also studied with James Feddeck and participated in masterclasses led by Andy Collinsworth, Kevin Sedatole, and Benjamin Grow. Aidan has founded numerous ensembles, including the Carlmont Chamber Orchestra and Oberlin Camerata, where musicians of all levels can play and learn from one another. Aidan is a strong advocate for music education, frequently visiting high schools as a clinician. This is his third summer working with Murphy Music Camps and fifth summer of attending the camp. He could not be more excited to continue working with the fantastic string orchestra! Outside of music, Aidan loves to make tea, workout, and play video games.