Allan McMurray, a recognized authority on conducting pedagogy and wind repertoire, is the Robert and Judy Charles Endowed Professor of Music, Chair of the Conducting Faculty, and Director of Bands at University of Colorado–Boulder, a position he has held since 1978. Prior to this, he was on the faculty at University of Michigan. Considered one of the world’s leading teachers of conducting, Professor McMurray has guest conducted and taught in 45 states and 15 foreign countries. He has been a featured visiting professor at over 200 universities and conservatories nationally. He has authored groundbreaking DVDs on the art of conducting that have been received with international acclaim. With a strong commitment to new music, he has been a leader in commissioning numerous compositions by American composers.

Allan McMurray is a past-president of the College Band Directors National Association and a member of numerous professional organizations including the American Bandmasters Association. In addition, he is a recipient of the Bohumil Makovsky Award for Outstanding College Band Directors from the National band fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi, and has been recognized by California State University Long Beach as “Distinguished Artist in Classical Music.” In December 2004, the Board of Regents designated Allan McMurray as “Distinguished Professor.” He is one of only 25 faculty in the history of the University of Colorado to receive this honor, the first in the College of Music and is the only one from the Arts to hold the title.