Alex Murray, best known in Prince George for his work and advocacy in the theatre community, died on March 16 at Prince George Hospice House surrounded by his loving family.
Murray was married to his beloved wife Bunny for 55 years, who predeceased him in 2011.
He was born on Easter Sunday, March 27, 1932, in Winnipeg, the eldest of Andrew and Florence Murray’s three children.
The family moved to Victoria in 1950, then to Calgary in 1953 where Murray met Bunny. They fell in love and married in 1954.
"Bunny was an accomplished ballet instructor, schooled at the Royal Academy of Dance ballet in Banff, Alta. and a member of the Banff School of Fine Arts,” Murray said during his interview with Kathy Nadalin for the Seniors’ Scene column that featured Murray in 2020. “It didn't take long and I was in love with her. She was a great dancer and I was a young man with a good voice. We had so much in common and we fell 100 per cent mutually in love. We got married in Calgary in 1954 and soon we started our family.”
They moved to Vancouver in 1956 and bought a home in Richmond in 1959.
They have two children Randy and Judy (Russell).
Moving from the railroad to the pulp and paper industry Murray was promoted, which prompted a move to Prince George in 1978.
"I enjoyed singing and entertaining from the start but I never considered turning my talent into a profession. Instead, I wanted a good steady job with a steady income that I could count on so that I could support my family," Murray said during his interview with Kathy Nadalin for the Seniors’ Scene column.
The Murrays moved to the Lakewood neighbourhood and Murray stayed there until 2017.
Murray retired from Northwood as Corporate Distribution Manager in 1992. During his entire career that provided well for his family, his passion was always music.
As a boy chorister in Winnipeg, it was quickly recognized by choral leaders and music teachers that he was blessed with an excellent soprano voice and great musicality. Church music, specifically Anglican Church choral music was his avocation for most of his life.
He possessed a rich baritone range which he always felt was a bit too “raspy” for him to have risked the uncertain outcomes of the music business.
In Vancouver Murray sang in the Bach Choir; was the baritone soloist in the Christ Church Cathedral Choir; Director of Music at St. Alban, Richmond; founding member of the Richmond Musical Theatre Club; a founder and the first Musical Director of The Richmond Singers; resident Musical Director at Metro Theatre and much more.
In Prince George, Murray was Director of Music at St. Michael and All Angels Anglican Church; Director of Music, Prince George Cantata Singers; founder and Director of The Alex Murray Singers; performed in, and was musical director for several Prince George performing organizations including: The Prince George Theatre Workshop, The Prince George Symphony Orchestra and many ballets, musicals and recitals produced and directed by wife Bunny and daughter Judy for Enchainement Productions and Judy Russell Presents.
Until the pandemic in the spring of 2020, Murray continued his lifelong love of singing and sharing the joy of singing as a vocal coach, working at Judy’s school but never taking any payment for his services. The tuition went to pay the accompanists who assisted him with the coaching sessions.
Murray inspired and mentored dozens of artists, although they benefited from his great skill as a teacher, he would always say that what he received in return from his students was far more than what they’d acquired from him. He was so proud of every one of his students, particularly his grandsons.
Murray also gave back to his profession and directly to the arts in Prince George. He served as Co-Chair of The Canadian Pulp and Paper Association, a prestigious national organization, and he served as President of The Prince George Concert Association (PGCA). During his incumbency, the PGCA dissolved, donating their financial assets to The Prince George Community Foundation to be invested, with proceeds distributed as awards and scholarships to young artists.
"I am so proud to be the patriarch of the talented Murray-Russell family,” Murray concluded his Seniors’ Scene interview.
A celebration of life is being planned for early summer 2022 with details announced at a later date.
