BROOKINGS – South Dakota State University senior Abby Murrane finished third at the recent Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competition in Florida.

Murrane won the state competition in November 2017 and then became the first SDSU student to win a regional event. She defeated vocalists from North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Missouri and Colorado at January’s event in Iowa City, Iowa.

Not bad for someone who was not initially planning to sing opera when she arrived at State.

Murrane, who grew up on a farm near Coon Rapids, Iowa, intended to major in biochemistry/premed and music education. By her second semester, she decided to go with music because she wanted to sing opera.

Laura Diddle, Murrane’s voice teacher, encouraged the decision.

“As a teacher, you know you have a student who has the unique skill set to advance to the next level by the second semester of their freshman year,” said Diddle, who is the director of choral activities for SDSU’s School of Performing Arts. “Not only is she a gifted artist, but Abby also works as hard or harder than any student I have had the privilege to work with.”

That’s why Diddle entered Murrane in the MTNA Young Artist Competition. Her repertoire consisted of eight selections including arias and art songs in French, German, Italian, Spanish and English.

“I was so happy to be in my home state of Iowa,” says Murrane. “It was awesome for me to sing for the people who raised me and developed me, even before my time at SDSU. Then, when they announced that I won, I was so surprised. My parents were crying, and Dr. Diddle was over the moon!”

The national competition was March 19 in Coronado Springs Resort at Disney World. Murrane competed against five other singers, and placed third.

“Nationals were scary and exciting,” Murrane says. “My whole family came, including relatives from Alabama and Georgia, so it was very special. I said I wanted to make the top three, so I met my personal goal. I’m so grateful.”

Murrane also sees her success as a way to give back.

“Nationals was a time for me to give everything I can of myself to my music,” she says. “Now, it’s my goal to give back. I want to give everything I can to others.”

Diddle is quick to sing Murrane’s praises. “It’s not about her – it’s about her gift, her art, her craft. She steps up to perform and she grows about an inch, she glows with energy and stuns her audiences. She is constantly trying to improve herself, always thanking those who support her, and looking ahead to the next incredible challenge with joy, tenacity and confidence—but never pride or applause.”

Murrane is a self-proclaimed introvert, and Diddle says she is probably the most humble student she has instructed who has this much promise for a performance career. 

“Much of that is due to her faith,” Diddle said. “She lives her faith. She sings in the Catholic Cathedral Choir every Wednesday and Sunday, and she’s been very active in the Newman Center on campus.”

“I have an amazing support community in Brookings, at St. Thomas More and the Newman Center,” Murrane says. “They always pray for me and come to performances. My family away from home is the Concert Choir, though. They took me under their wing when I came in as a freshman. 

“Now, I can do that for freshmen coming in. I can help them and encourage them. Everyone in that choir is so inspiring to me,” Murrane said.

While at State, she has been of the SDSU Concert Choir, Madrigal Singers (2015 and 2017) and the SDSU Opera Workshop. In addition, Murrane spent the past summer performing at the Harrower Young Artist Program in four opera scenes and in Francis Poulenc’s opera, “Dialogues of the Carmelites,” as Sister Catherine. 

She also traveled to Salzburg, Austria, where she studied German and received opera training with the Frost School of Music.

Murrane is currently student teaching in Madison and will graduate in May. She plans to attend Peabody Conservatory of The John Hopkins University for graduate school for opera performance or Florida State University.