Murray Hipkin studied at York University, the Guildhall and the National Opera Studio before joining the Music Staff of ENO (1983–8) and then working for Opéra de Lyon, La Monnaie, Opera Factory, Scottish Opera and Opera Brava (as Musical Director). 

Since returning to ENO in 1995, he has appeared in Weill Mahagonny, Turnage The Silver Tassie, Leoncavallo La bohème and Stravinsky The Rake’s Progress, and worked extensively as Senior Répétiteur (his productions have included Wagner Ring) and Assistant Conductor. He has conducted Puccini La bohème (Surrey Opera, Opera Box), the UK première of Salieri Falstaff, Haydn La vera costanza (Bampton Classical Opera), and, for English National Opera, The Pirates of Penzance and the 20^th Anniversary performances of Jonathan Miller’s production of The Mikado starring Lesley Garrett.  He assisted John Adams and conducted on location for the award-winning Channel 4 film The Death of Klinghoffer and in summer 2005 he played in the UK stage premiere of the same opera at the Edinburgh International Festival.  He appeared at the 1996 Verbier Festival with Icelandic singer Bjork in Schoenberg Pierrot Lunaire, working with her again some years later on John Taverner Prayer of the Heart.  Opera translations include La vera costanza.