Michael Murphy has announced that he will step down as the artistic and music director of the Palouse Choral Society at the end of the current season to spend more time with his family, according to a news release issued by the group.
The regional children's choir recently formed under the society's banner will continue to be conducted by his wife Claire Murphy.
In the statement the society said that under his seven-year tenure, it has grown in membership, concert attendance, increased ticket sales and number of annual concerts.
His final concerts with the society will be a chamber choir concert of Northwest composers with two world premiers on April 3 and performances of Carl Orffs "Carmina Burana" by the full chorale April 15 and 17.
The group has begun the search for a new artistic and music director. More details about the concerts and search can be found at the society's website.