Chenango Stories: Gail Murphy

Being part of a community she cares deeply for and spreading her love for music, one local teacher says she is in the perfect place to do what she loves the most.

Gail Murphy grew up in Chappaqua in Westchester County, a place she recalls as a little on the fancy side. “My mother would host cocktail and dinner parties often,” said Murphy.

While in high school Murphy’s family moved to Montrose, Pa. “This was much more my style,” she explains. “It was much smaller than where we lived before and although it wasn’t the country, it had a country feel to it.”



Being one of eight children isn’t as scary as it might sound, Murphy says. “Everyone says being the middle child is the worst. When you’re young that may be true, but as you get older I find it is the best spot too,” said Murphy. “I find that I am just as close to the oldest as I am to the youngest.”

Throughout her childhood and for as long as Murphy can remember, she has had a love for music. In 1975 before venturing off to college, Gail found herself moving with her parents to Earlville and this is when she first explored Norwich. She says she liked the area and got her own place while she worked at the emergency center that was housed at the fire department.

In time Murphy ventured off to the Crane School of Music at Potsdam where she double majored in theater and music and then came back to the Norwich area and took a position as a permanent substitute at Stanford J. Gibson school in the music room. “This is where I fell in love,” said Murphy as she laughs and reflects that, at that moment, she knew she loved teaching at Gibson. “I got hooked,” she said.

Discuss this story with other members on the Forum


There's more to this story! You're only seeing 53% of the story. Subscribe now to get immediate access to the rest of the story as well as our whole online offering.

Today's Other Stories



Reader Response

Be the first to comment on this story.

Please log in to leave a comment.
© 2008 Snyder Communications/The Evening Sun
29 Lackawanna Avenue, Norwich, NY 13815 - (607) 334-3276