If you’ve attended a senior recital, art exhibition, or any other performance at Denison, chances are Larry Murdock was in the audience.
For Murdock, supporting young artists means showing up. And for decades, he has done just that.
“I go to all of the student recitals, “ he said. “I want them to know people support them.”
As Denison’s registrar for 37 years, Murdock met with seniors about their graduation requirements and ran June Orientation, for which he hired a student staff of 16 to 18 workers.
“This was one of my favorite things to do because I got so close to the student workers,” Murdock said.
He recognized how much effort music students put into preparing for their senior recitals.
“I always found it sad that they could only perform once,” he said.
Today, Murdock helps organize opportunities for them to perform at least once more — at the Otterbein Granville SeniorLife Community just down the road from Denison.
A resident of Otterbein since 2017, Murdock coordinates the scheduling for the Amelia Room, where arts performances take place. He serves as the community representative for the Vail Series Advisory Council and
supports the Denison student Artist-in-Residence program. And he serves on various community committees and curates the art gallery at Weathervane Playhouse.
His late wife, Susan, was an elementary school music teacher who introduced him to different types of art and music. With no children of their own, the Murdocks found that supporting young people “filled a gap in our lives.”
Murdock carried this passion into retirement. He has lined up student performances through the spring. He says that Katie Kress ’25, a music performance major, has performed several times at Otterbein and has become “a close friend.”
In his spare time, Murdock practices his talents as a weaver, an art form he took up in 1978 when he became intrigued by pieces at a Lancaster street fair. He enjoys making tapestries and table runners on the two looms he keeps in the second bedroom of his apartment.
Whether he’s applauding in the audience or inviting a Denison student to bring music to Otterbein’s residents, Murdock continues to build community through the arts.
“7 Gates of Gondor” Tapestry
Tapestry in honor of his late wife Susan Murdock featuring three of her favorite pieces of music.
