In 1993 Matt McMurrin moved with his parents to Ukraine at the onset of their ministry where he ran a youth program at a mission church for two years. Matt returned to the States in 1996 to attend Montreat College.

In August of 2000, after graduation, Matt returned to Ukraine and founded the Kyiv Youth Orchestra and Chorus. The group began with 14 young people from the youth group of Church of the Holy Trinity. Under his direction, the group began to attract young talent from the major musical institutions of Ukraine.

The orchestra is mostly made up of students from the Conversatory in Kiev. Following the KYOC 2005 U.S. East Coast Tour, Matthew McMurrin moved back to the United States. Sergii Golubnychyi, (KSOC assistant conductor), succeeded Matthew as artistic director and principal conductor of the KYOC. Sergii is a graduate of the Department of Operatic and Symphony Conducting of the National Music Academy of Ukraine. The KYOC toured the U.S. in 2003 and 2005.