State News

Seattle violinist Quinton Morris is among the 2011 Mayor’s Arts Award recipients. The Mayor's Arts awards celebrate the contributions of individuals and organizations that make a difference in our community through arts and culture. The Seattle Arts Commission recommended to the mayor the 2011 recipients from a pool of more than 300 public nominations.

"The arts are an essential part of a great city. While the collective achievements of this year's award recipi-ents are impressive, what's truly inspiring is their commitment to making a difference in our community through the arts," said Mayor McGinn. "They engage our youth, connect different cultures, give artists a place to grow, and create access for all people to participate in the arts and tap their own creativity."

Quinton Morris enjoys a multifaceted career as a concert violinist, chamber musician, professor, 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 Univer-sity, where recently 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 im-pressive 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 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.

Please mail OR email your nominations to:

Walter Schwede

Western Washington University

516 High Street

Bellingham, WA 98225-9107

Email: walter.schwede@wwu.edu