James Murray III, Conductor
James Murray began conducting when, as a member of the Rome Festival Orchestra he stepped in to lead a rehearsal for a conductor who was delayed. When the conductor arrived, he allowed Jim to finish the rehearsal and then invited him to conduct a concert the following week. Since that time, Mr. Murray’s conducting career has flourished, allowing him to work with numerous ensembles. Currently, Mr. Murray serves as Music Director and Conductor of the Northland Symphony Orchestra (Kansas City, MO), Heritage Philharmonic (Eastern Jackson County, MO) and the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of Kansas City, an ensemble that he founded in 1997.
Praised by the Kansas City Star for repertoire that “betrays an inventive sense of fun”, Mr. Murray’s formal training includes a Bachelors Degree in Music Performance from William Jewell College and a Masters Degree in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Denver. Workshop master teachers include Paul Vermel, Samuel Jones, Samuel Adler, Victoria Bond and Donald Portnoy.
His guest conductor appearances include the Kansas City Cello Ensemble, St. Louis All-Suburban Orchestra, Liberty Symphony Chamber Orchestra, William Jewell College Opera (Liberty, MO), and the Centennial Philharmonic (Denver, CO). Increasingly in demand as a clinician, Jim has served as an adjudicator for the Kansas and Missouri State High School Activities Associations, as well as for numerous other festivals and workshops.
Off the podium, Jim is the Music Coordinator and an Instructor of Music at the Metropolitan Community College—Maple Woods. He teaches a full load of classes including Music Appreciation and Music of the World’s Cultures. Jim represents the Maple Woods campus as an elected member of the Faculty Senate. In 2009 he was one of eighteen educators to receive the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Outside the classroom and concert hall, Jim and his wife, Nicole, pursue the tallest and fastest roller coasters in the world. Jim and Nicole have ridden over 240 different roller coasters. Both rate Millennium Force at Cedar Point in Ohio as their favorite coaster.
Monty Carter, Conductor
Monty Carter holds degrees in music performance from the Louisiana State University School of Music and the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance. He serves as concertmaster for the Heritage Philharmonic, principal violist for the Saint Joseph Symphony and Liberty Symphony, and violist in the Lawrence Chamber Orchestra. He entertains throughout the year as singer and stringer for Carray Music, established by cellist Trilla Ray-Carter and Monty shortly before their marriage in 1997. Trilla directs the Kansas City Baroque Consortium, founded in 2008, in which the Carters have performed with Early Music Missouri and many other collaborators.
Trilla and Monty are on the music faculty at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., where they teach string methods and chamber music. Monty has also taught violin, viola and chamber music at Missouri Western State University and Kansas City Kansas Community College. Robustly active since 1996, Monty's private instruction studios have presented creative programs such as Jake & Sandy's Violin & Viola Club, The Orch Asylum, Summer String Paradise, and the upcoming V-Force Commandos! He has appeared as a string clinician or festival adjudicator for each of the surrounding public school districts in Kansas and Missouri, the Olathe Area Youth Symphony, and the Youth Symphony of Kansas City.
Since 2004, Monty has had the privilege of co-conducting the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of Kansas City with its founder, Jim Murray. In September, 2009, MYO performed Monty's composition, Sakura for Koto & Orchestra at the Greater Kansas City Japan Festival.
Karianne Waterland, Executive Director
Karianne Waterland has been involved with music for most of her life. An active performer and educator, she is currently plays with the Northland Symphony Orchestra and teaches Suzuki violin at the Northland Cathedral School of Music.
Mrs. Waterland received her Music Business degree from William Jewell College. While obtaining her degree, she played with the Liberty Symphony Orchestra and worked with the Kansas City Symphony, the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra and the American Heartland Theatre.
Karianne currently works in the Marketing and Education Departments for Theater League. When not involved with work or musical activities, she enjoys spending time and traveling with her husband, Andrew.
Andrew Waterland, Orchestra Manager
Andrew Waterland is a Flight Instructor and Charter Pilot for ATD Flight Systems in Kansas City, MO. When he is not flying around the country, he is helping as the Orchestra Manger of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of Kansas City. Mr. Waterland received an Aviation Technology degree from Kansas State University in August of 2006. In his free time, Andrew enjoys spending time and traveling with his wife, Karianne.
