Assessing How We Define Diversity - Seattle University
Assessing How We Define Diversity - Seattle University
Assessing How We Define Diversity - Seattle University
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PHOTO BY ANIL KAPAHI<br />
CATCH MORRIS AND<br />
THE YOUNG EIGHT<br />
Quinton Morris will perform<br />
as the guest soloist with the<br />
<strong>Seattle</strong> Symphony at 10 and 11<br />
a.m. on Jan. 16, 2008, at Pigott<br />
Auditorium. Morris will perform<br />
Mozart’s Violin Concerto no. 3<br />
in G Major. Admission is free.<br />
The Young Eight will make its SU<br />
debut at 8 p.m. on May 3, 2008,<br />
at Pigott Auditorium. To learn<br />
more about the Young Eight,<br />
visit www.theyoungeight.com.<br />
Violinist Quinton Morris and his Young Eight<br />
octet have been instrumental in exposing diverse<br />
audiences to classical music. Young Eight is the<br />
artist-in-residence at SU for 2007-08.<br />
very good music department,”<br />
Morris says. “My position will be to<br />
put <strong>Seattle</strong> U’s music on the map, and<br />
that’s a challenge I’m up for.”<br />
College of Arts and Sciences Dean<br />
Wallace Loh says Morris brings<br />
vision and excitement to the position.<br />
“This is a major step in restoring the<br />
music major in the SU curriculum,”<br />
Loh says. “I’m also delighted that<br />
his string chamber group, the Young<br />
Eight, will be in residence at the Lee<br />
Center for the Arts. It will bolster<br />
SU’s connections with the broader<br />
<strong>Seattle</strong> community.”<br />
In addition to his full plate at SU,<br />
Morris will continue his role with<br />
the Young Eight, which will be the<br />
artists-in-residence at the university<br />
for 2007-08.<br />
With the Young Eight, the focus<br />
is on education and outreach, Morris<br />
says, and a drive to expose string<br />
players of color and classical music to<br />
various communities.<br />
“<strong>We</strong> are geared toward reaching<br />
those not accustomed to classical<br />
music,” he says.<br />
Members of the Young Eight hold<br />
impressive musical credentials from<br />
some of the top music and arts schools<br />
in the country, including the Boston<br />
Conservatory, Julliard, Manhattan<br />
School of Music and the Peabody<br />
Conservatory of Music. Since its<br />
formation, the Young Eight has graced<br />
stages in New York City, <strong>Seattle</strong>, Los<br />
Angeles, Miami and Austin. Although<br />
members are based in different cities,<br />
the group gets together monthly for<br />
performances.<br />
A huge jazz and classical music fan,<br />
Morris is inspired and influenced by<br />
artists such as singer Shirley Horn<br />
and violinist Gil Shaham, as well as<br />
contemporary hip-hop and the music<br />
of one of his favorites: pop music<br />
sensation Beyoncé.<br />
The potential to reach young<br />
people through music and to educate<br />
them about different musical genres<br />
is especially gratifying to Morris.<br />
“What I enjoy most about being a<br />
young artist is the accessibility I have<br />
to reach an audience that is young,” he<br />
says. “I think it’s extremely important<br />
for young people to know that you<br />
don’t have to be an older person to<br />
enjoy classical music. I especially<br />
enjoy being able to reach out to<br />
various communities and to see how<br />
people are touched by our music.”<br />
—Tina Potterf<br />
SU Magazine Fall 2007 | 9
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