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Meet our instructors
Joe Murphy
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.
Sara RAngEl-Murphy
Co-Founder & Award-Winning Choral Director
Sara has been teaching in the San Carlos area since 2008. She earned her Masters in Opera Performance from California State University, Northridge. She began her career as an opera singer in the greater Los Angeles area.
Sara and her family moved to the Bay Area in 2005 and since then, Sara has become a major name and force in the music education world on the San Francisco peninsula. Currently, Sara is the music director at St. Charles Parish where she is in charge of the music for all masses including holy days, weddings and funerals. She is also the K-6 music director at St. Charles school. She is the director of the long-standing, award-winning Voice Box Choir which takes in kids from the three public middle schools in San Carlos. She also runs a private studio of voice students where she helps them to prepare for upcoming auditions. And to top it all off, she just directed/choreographed/produced her first musical at St. Charles, "The Trials of Alice in Wonderland."
When Sara is not teaching, directing or singing, she enjoys scrapbooking and card making while raising her two teenage kids, Sean and En, who attend Carlmont High School.
Tabitha Tetreault
Award-Winning Orchestra Director
Tabitha Tetreault has taught 5th through 8th grade string orchestra at Tierra Linda Middle School since 2009. Under her direction, the TL orchestras have grown from 2 class periods a day to 5, along with multiple Gold awards from Heritage festivals and unanimous superior ratings from the California Music Educators Association.
Tabitha started off playing Clarinet in 5th grade and then starting picking up a love for learning different instruments from there, including saxophone and bass in middle school. She cultivated a passion for teaching as a teenager, including section leader in the Poway High School marching band and teaching younger students private lessons.
She graduated with honors from UC Santa Cruz, with a BA in Music and a minor in education. While attending UCSC, and was chosen to play at Carnegie Hall at the age of 19. Since college, she has taught orchestra, band and choir at the middle school, high school and community music levels.
In addition to teaching, Tabitha has continued to play in musical pits as well as singing on stage in multiple productions at Hillbarn Theatre in Foster City. She currently plays Viola with the Peninsula Scottish Fiddlers and with the New Millennium Chamber Orchestra. She is excited to return each summer and teach with the Murphy Music Camp again this summer.
Camp counselors
Murphy Music Camps has a wonderful team of engaging, energizing, professional counselors who will help the campers create memories that will last a lifetime. Most of our counselors were campers so they understand what it takes to optimize the thrill of these camps.