Dr. Quinton Morris Selected for Seattle Arts Commission

Dr. Quinton Morris is a concert violinist, educator, entrepreneur, filmmaker and founder of The Young Eight 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. Currently he is the Director of Chamber and Instrumental Music and Associate Professor of Violin and Chamber Music at Seattle University. A native of Renton, WA, he is also the founder of The Key to Change, a nonprofit whose mission is to ignite positive change in the world through music education. Key to Change has a violin studio in South King County, which serves middle and high school students of color and lower economic backgrounds in Renton, Kent, Auburn, Maple Valley, and Federal Way.

Dr. Morris is a board member of Artist Trust and has received the Bronze Award at the Global Music Awards and Diamond Award at the European Independent Film Awards in 2016, the Young Eight String Octet founded by Dr. Morris received a US Band coin, which was given to them in 2007 as part of a community concert at Fort Hood for their commitment to public and community service, and a Seattle Mayor’s Arts Award in 2011.

(Courtesy of Erika Lindsay, Office of Arts & Culture, City of Seattle)