Violinist Quinton I. Morris Recipient of a 2011 Seattle Mayor’s Arts Award

[Quinton I. Morris]

Jeffrey James Arts Consulting tells AfriClassical that Prof. Quinton I. Morris is one of six persons awarded by the Mayor of Seattle; 300 people were nominated:

“Violinist Quinton I. Morris is a recipient of a 2011 Seattle Mayor’s Arts Award. The announcement was made by the Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs. Mayor Mike McGinn announced the recipients. The Seattle Arts Commission recommended the recipients from a pool of more than 300 public nominations. The Mayor’s Arts Awards recognize the contributions made by artists, arts and cultural organizations and community members who make a difference through arts and cultural activities.

“The official press release said this:

Dr. Quinton Morris enjoys a multifaceted career as a concert violinist, chamber musician, teacher, director and founder of The Young Eight String Octet, the nation’s only string octet comprised of distinguished African American string players from the nation’s most prestigious music schools. Morris earned a Master of Music degree from The Boston Conservatory and a Doctor of Musical Arts at The University of Texas at Austin.

“Morris is the Director of Chamber and Instrumental Music and Assistant Professor of Music at Seattle University, where last week he won the Outstanding Scholarship and Creative Work Award from the College of Arts and Sciences. According to one nominator, 'Morris' long list of achievements and awards is impressive, but even more impressive is his determination to make a difference for aspiring young musicians – particularly for youngsters of color who do not always have role models close at hand in the classical community.'

Morris has performed solo and chamber music performances across the country and around the globe, and recently marked his New York City recital debut with soprano Indra Thomas and pianist Maimy Fong to a sold out audience at Carnegie Hall. More about Dr. Morris at http://www.seattleu.edu/artsci/finearts/default.aspx?id=3216.” “The recipients will be honored at the Mayor’s Arts Awards ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 1 at Seattle Center.”

Violinist Quinton I. Morris Plays Music of James P. Johnson with Seattle University String Faculty April 30

[Quinton I. Morris]

Violinist Quinton I. Morris will join other members of the string faculty of Seattle University for a program of chamber music on Friday, April 30 – 7:30 PM at Pigott Auditorium on the campus of Seattle University, 901 12th Ave in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Morris and others will perform a program of classical and contemporary chamber works, including selections by Beethoven, Brahms, James P. Johnson and contemporary composer Michael Mikulka.

The April 30 performance is free and open to the public. For more information, call 206-296-5360 or visit http://www.seattleu.edu/artsci/Default.aspx. As the artistic/executive director and founder of The Young Eight String Octet, Dr. Morris has performed with his group in chamber music recitals across the country. The Young Eight, America’s only string octet is comprised of distinguished African-American string players from the nation’s prestigious music schools and conservatories. He is Assistant Professor of Music, Fine Arts and Global African Studies at Seattle University. [The African American composer and pianist James P. Johnson (1894-1955) wrote and performed both stride piano works and classical music, including Yamekraw: A Negro Rhapsody. Johnson is profiled at AfriClassical.com]

'The Young Eight' in 'Celebration of Black Composers,' Seattle University, Feb. 20

[The Young Eight]

TheYoungEight.com
February 17, 2010
“The Young Eight, America’s only professional string octet, will present a special Celebration of Black Composers concert on Saturday, February 20 – 7:30 PM in Seattle University’s Pigott Auditorium, 1016 E Marion Street in Seattle, Washington. The Young Eight is Ensemble in Residence at Seattle University. The octet will celebrate Black History Month with music by African and African-American composers. This special performance will be a reunion, as five of the original octet members will perform together after a three year hiatus.

"In addition to the standard classical repertoire, The Young Eight concert will feature special guests: spoken word artist Toyia Taylor, singer Angie Shields and dancer Kiana Harris. Tickets for the February 20 concert are $12 for public general admission, $8 for faculty and staff and $5 for Seattle University students. For more information, call 206-398-4994 or visit
http://www.seattleu.edu/events/detail.asp?sID=28055.

The Young Eight, consisting of Artistic Director Quinton I. Morris, Kayoung Nam, Timothy Peters and Chala Yancy, violins, Amber Archibald and Carl St. Jacques, violas and Caleb Jones and Tahirah Whittington, violoncelli, is an octet of African-American musicians from The Boston Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, Indiana University, The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes College of Music, New England Conservatory of Music and Peabody Conservatory of Music.

'The Young Eight' Presents Concert at Seattle University at 8 PM Friday, May 1

TheYoungEight.com

“The Young Eight, America’s only professional string octet, will be in concert on Friday, May 1 – 8 PM in Seattle University’s Pigott Auditorium, 1016 E Marion Street in Seattle, Washington. The Young Eight is Ensemble in Residence at Seattle University. Concert repertoire will be Beethoven’s Duo for Viola and Violoncello (with two eyeglasses), Dvorak’s Terzetto, op. 74 in C Major for two violins and viola, Summertime for two violins, arranged by John Littlejohn, Michael DePaul’s Elegy for String Octet and the Mendelssohn Octet for Strings in E-flat major, op, 40 (in celebration of the bicentennial year of Felix Mendelssohn).” 

“The Young Eight, consisting of Artistic Director Quinton I. Morris, Kayoung Nam, Timothy Peters and Chala Yancy, violins, Amber Archibald and Carl St. Jacques, violas and Caleb Jones and Tahirah Whittington, violoncelli, is an octet of African-American musicians from The Boston Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, Indiana University, The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes College of Music, New England Conservatory of Music and Peabody Conservatory of Music.”

AAAHRP 2009 Biennial Black History Conference at Seattle University March 21-22, 2009

AfriClassical has received this notice from the AAAHRP: “I want to call your attention to the upcoming AAAHRP 2009 Biennial Black History Conference that will be held on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22, 2009 at Seattle University, Seattle, Washington. AAAHRP conferences have become the benchmark for excellence, and have become so popular that they’ve been expanded to two (2) days from one (1). The 2009 history conference, with the theme “Black History: Full Disclosure,” promises to be the best ever. Visit the AAAHRP website, http://www.aaahrp.org, for complete conference information. Sincerely, Ed Diaz, President, AAAHRP history3@comcast.net 206-547-5394”