School of Music Mourns the Passing of Murray Crewe

Duquesne University is mourning the loss of Murray Crewe, an adjunct professor in the Mary Pappert School of Music, who passed away on Feb. 11 at age 56.

Crewe, the former principal bass trombonist for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, was a native of Saskatchewan and began playing the piano at age five and by 12 was playing the tuba, and then trombone.

“(Murray) was one of the greats in so many ways. I learned so much from him,” said Jim Nova, adjunct professor of trombone in the music school, who as a friend of Crewe’s. “What a sound, and what artistry, and what a devoted friend. I shared some of the most amazing artistic experiences as well as some of the heartiest laughs with him. He is so missed and so loved, I still can’t believe it.”

Crewe studied to become a symphonic bass trombonist at the University of British Columbia and then with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, where he performed on the Chicago nightclub circuit with big band greats, including Duke Ellington.

He joined the Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec, in Quebec City, in 1984 and became the first Canadian bass trombonist to win an audition for a major American orchestra, joining the Utah Symphony in Salt Lake City. Crew joined the Toronto Symphony before moving onto the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 1993.

Crewe is survived by his wife, Linda, and their children Ralph and Emilie.