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Dr. Ruth Morrow

Phone
Fax
(940) 397 4511
Email
Title
Professor; Bolin Distinguished Chair of Piano
Department
Music
Location
Fain Fine Arts Center
Room
C117 K

Bio

Dr. Ruth E. Morrow, NCTM, is the current Dolores P. Bolin and D. Phil and Aurora S. Bolin Chair of Piano and Chair of the Department of Music at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. She holds degrees from Indiana University (DM, Piano Performance and Pedagogy), the Eastman School of Music (MM, Piano; MA, Musicology), and Whitman College (BA, Music, Philosophy). With a background spans all musical styles and includes performances throughout the United States and Europe, Dr. Morrow remains in demand as recitalist, collaborative pianist, and lecturer. She gives master classes and lectures on topics such as silence, piano music and human rights, ragtime, and movement in addition to performing, and enjoys working with students to make them more at ease in both practice and performance. Gisborne, New Zealand, and the island of Grenada, West Indies, have hosted Dr. Morrow for week-long residencies including performances, master classes, festivals, and workshops. She is currently researching, performing, and recording solo piano music which heightens awareness of human rights issues. She teaches at the Indiana University Piano Academy each summer, and is a Certified Instructor of the Feldenkrais® Method. In addition to her numerous musical endeavors, Dr. Morrow is an avid marathon and half-marathon runner, and is owned by two polydactyl tabby cats.


Institution Degree Graduation Date
Southern California Movement Institute Certified Instructor of Feldenkrais 2001
Indiana University Doctor of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy 1990
Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester Master of Arts in Musicology 1984
Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester Master of Music in Piano Performance 1980
Whitman College Bachelor of Arts in Music; Philosophy 1977
Employer Position Start Date End Date
Midwestern State University Professor and Bolin Distinguished Chair of Piano, Department of Music 09/01/1989
Indiana University Founding Faculty Member - Piano Academy 05/11/1985

2010-11:

  • Solo piano performance on faculty recital: Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, June 2010
  • Solo and chamber performances, Sails in the Desert Resort, Uluru/Ayers Rock, NT, Australia, July 2010
  • "Listening through Silence to Sound," paper presentation at the National Conference of the College Music Society, Minneapolis, MN, September 2010
  • Chamber Recital with Dr. David Johnson, violin: MSU, Steven F. Austin University
  • Chamber Recital with Dr. Roy Couch, tuba: Cameron University (Lawton, OK); MSU
  • Solo piano recital of the music of Mendelssohn, R. Schumann, Chopin, and Liszt (composers born 1809-11): MSU; Plano, TX


2011-12:

  •  Soloist with the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra: Bartok Piano Concerto No. 3
  • "A Mixture of Seeming Opposites: World Music and Music in the Western Euaopean Tradition," co-presented with Prof. Ulrike Brinksmeier (College of Mount St. Joseph, Cincinnati, OH) at the biennial conference of the International Society of Music Educators (ISME) in Thessaloniki, Greece.
  • "Mindful Practice Habits," poster presentation and dialogue at the biennial conference of ISME, Thessaloniki, Greece.
  • Wrote program notes for the 2011-12 season of the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra.
  • Organized "Chopin Preludes Op. 28:" a recital by the collegiate pianists of Midwestern State University

2012-13:

  • "Debussy 150:" a concert to commemorate the 150th year of Claude Debussy's birth including performers from the piano and voice studios (MSU) as well as community members.
  • "Music is Music: releasing the Divides Towards Making Us Whole," presentation at the 2013 international conference of New Directions in the Humanities, Budapest, Hungary.



2013-14:

  • Ruth Morrow & Friends Hallowe'en Recital
  • Received grant from the Fain College of Fine Arts for research on multi-tasking at the piano
  • Invited talk for Plano Music Teachers Association (PMTA), Plano, Texas
  • Ruth Morrow & Friends April Fool's Concert
  • Soloist with MSU Wind Ensemble: Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue
  • "Firing on All Cylinders; or, When 1 + 1 = 3," paper presented at the 2014 international conference of New Directions in the Humanities, Madrid, Spain
  • "How to Begin: What to Do While Learning the Notes," invited presentation for the students, faculty, and staff of the Indiana University Piano Academy, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
  • Collaborative pianist for recitals for all MSU Music Department woodwind position finalists
  • Invited performance during the Alan Fraser Piano Institute, Weber University, Ogden, Utah



2014-15:

  • Faculty Chamber Music Recitals with Dr. Andrew Allen, saxophone (fall and spring)
  • Received grant from the Fain College of Fine Arts for research on furthering musical and physical technique at the piano
  • Solo recital: music of W.A. Mozart and Franz Schubert
  • Invited Skype lecture-recital for Region IX elementary and middle school students on W.A. Mozart's Variations on 'Ah, vious dirai-je, Maman, K. 264/300e​; hosted by the Kemp Center for the Arts
  • Judged various piano festivals and competitions for the Plano Music Teachers Association (PMTA)
  • "How to Focus Practicing between Lessons: Stylistic Considerations from each Musical Period, " invited presentation for the students, faculty, and staff of the Indiana University Piano Academy, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
  • "Sprezzatura! Preparing for Ease in a Digital Age," workshop presented at the 2015 international conference of New Directions in the Humanities, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  • Soloist with MSU Wind Ensemble: George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue
  • Collaborative pianist for MSU instrumental music majors: recitals and juries
  • Invited performance during the Alan Fraser Piano Institute, Weber University, Ogden, Utah


2015-16:

  • Faculty Chamber Music Recital with Dr. Andrew Allen, saxophone (fall)
  • Faculty Chamber Music Recital with Dr. Matthew Luttrell and Dr. Hana Beloglavic, trombone (spring)
  • Solo recital: "Chasing Sleep: Music of John Adams, Lowell Liebermann, and Margaret Bonds" (spring)
  • Guest Faculty Recital: Indiana University Piano Academy, Bloomington, IN (summer
  • Obbligato piano part of the Bloch Concerto Grosso with the MSU Orchestra (spring)
  • College Music Society South Central Region Annual Conference: Program Chair, Presentation Selection Committee Chair, Composition Selection Committee member (spring)


2016-17:

  • Council of Music of the Three Americas: lecture recital "In Speech Beyond Words: Creating a Call for Conscience and Inclusion in Music for Solo Piano" at the DECOLONIZING MUSIC: The Music Forum of the Americas conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico (fall)
  • Wichita Falls Asts Alliance: collaborative pianist (along with Dr. Martin Camacho) with Ollana Goudeau and Ashley Renee Watkins, Midwestern State University Akin Auditorium (fall)
  • Pianist with the MSU Orchestra: Glinka's Divertimento Brilliante (fall)
  • MSU Faculty Forum: "In Speech Beyond Words: Creating a Call for Conscience and Inclusion in Music for Solo Piano" (spring)
  • Poster Presentation, "Creating a Call for Conscience and Inclusion in Solo Piano Music," at the Music Teachers National Association annual conference, Baltimore, Maryland (spring)
  • Wichita Falls Ballet Signature Series: 4-hands piano performance (with Dr. Martin Camacho) of Ravel's La vals, danced in MSU Fain Fine Arts Thratre (spring)
  • Collaborative recital with Dr. Christopher Vivio, low brass (spring)
  • Ensemble pianist in MSU Wind Ensemble for Joan Tower's Fascinating Ribbons (spring)
  • 5th Mediterranean Interdisciplinary Forum on Social Sciences and Humanities: "Lebewohl": A Musical Motif for Peace, Barcelona, Spain (summer)
  • Clute International Conference on Education: "In Speech Betond Words: Creating a Call for Conscience and Inclusion in Music for Solo Piano". Stockholm, Sweden (Summer)
  • The Arts in Society International Conference: "A Call to Conscience: Human Rights through Music for Solo Piano", Paris, France (summer)
  • "Harpsichord Music on the Piano", invited presentation for the students, faculty, and staff of the Indiana University Piano Academy, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (summer)
  • program notes for the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra 2016-17 season


2017-18:

  • Collaborative Pianist with Dr. Chris Vivio, tuba, at the European South Regional Low Brass Conference, Royal Conservatory of Music, Madrid, Spain (summer)
  • Collaborative Pianist with Dr. Chris Vivio, tuba, at the Southeast Regional Low Brass Conference, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL (spring)
  • Faculty recital with Dr. Chris Vivio, tuba, MSU (spring)
  • ​Piano Soloist with the MSU Orchestra: Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue (spring)
  • "Lebewohl": A Musical Motif for Peace, lecture-recital presented at the 2018 Regional Conference of the College Music Society - South Central Chapter, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant, OK (spring)
  • Guest Recital at Lamar University, Beaumont, TX (spring)
  • Guest Faculty Recital with Anthony Williams, trombone, MSU (spring)
  • Soloist and Collaborative Pianist on MSU Faculty Recital (fall)
  • Guest/Faculty Recital with Alan Bowers, tenor, MSU (fall)
  • Piano Soloist with the Orquestra Sinfonica de Oriente: Schumann Piano Concerto in a minor, Op. 54. Santiago de Cuba, Cuba (fall)
  • Chamber Music performance for the opening of Burns Chapel, MSU (fall)
  • A Call to Conscience: Human Rights through Music for Solo Piano, presented at the Arts in Society International Conference, Paris, France (summer)

2018-19:

  •  New Ways of Looking at the Goldberg presented at College Music Society Regional Conferences (Northeast; South Central). (spring)
  • Seeking Refuge: New Music by Barbara York presented at the Music by Women Festival, Mississippi University for Women and at the College Music Society South Central Regional Conference. Mississippi University for Women. (spring)
  • Seeking Refuge
  • Coordinator and performer: Women Shall Be Heard – concert of music by women composers presented as part of   Inclusion NOW! Week. (spring) 
  • Facilitated visit by Barbara York (composer) workshop and lecture
  • Collaborative pianist with voice students of Prof. Judy Diltz (spring)
  • National Association of Schools of Music reaccreditation site visit to Valley City State University, Valley City, North Dakota, team leader (spring)
  • Solo faculty recital (spring)

2019-20:

  •  Illuminating Human Rights through Music: The “BEAD-no-R” Project accepted for presentation at the International Society of Music Educators Biennial World Conference, Helsinki, Finland. August 2020. (COVID cancelled; no virtual)
  • Seated Posture at the Piano: From Slump to Support accepted for the Group Piano and Piano Pedagogy Conference sponsored by the Music Teachers National Association. July 2020 (COVID cancelled; online video not an option)
  • Awarded the Jane Spears Carnes Faculty Fellowship in Creative Endeavors for spring 2020. Researched and prepared solo piano compositions highlighting human rights issues: Troubled Water (Margaret Bonds; the Underground Railroad); Sonate 27 April 1945 (Karl Amadeus Hartmann; the death march out of Dachau concentration camp towards the end of WW II); Aghavni (Mary Kouyoumdjian; the Armenian genocide of 1915); The Cherokee Variation (Louis W. Ballard; the Trail of Tears); Seeking Refuge (Barbara York, commissioned by Ruth Morrow; immigration issues of separating children from their parents at the US/Mexico border). Performances and recording delayed due to COVID-19
  • Towards Equitable Footsteps: Musical Depictions of Survival presented at the College Music Society South Central Conference, University of Central Arkansas, Conway, Arkansas. March 2020
  • Solo and Chamber (with Dr. Martin Camacho 4-hands) Performer in the MSU Piano Celebration (fall)
  • Collaborative pianist with Professors Morgan Mallory (voice), Paul Geraci (trumpet), William Hayter (bass clarinet), and Matthew Luttrell (trombone) in MSU Department of Music Faculty Showcase (fall)


2020-21:

Recorded material for Seeking Refuge: Solo Piano Music for Human Rights, the recording project begun as the focus of the sabbatical and support of the Jane Spears Carnes Faculty Creative

Endeavors Award. Mastering and other needs are ongoing.

First Friday Concerts:

September - A Sampler of Solo Piano Music for Human Rights

October - Introducing New Music Faculty; performed with Dr. Sarah Dunbar and facilitated choir performance

November: Giving Thanks

December: Music of the Season

February: Love in the Time of COVID

March: Facilitated a “Sneak Peek” at Opera Workshop

April: African-American Spirituals: performances by Jordan Gibbs, Dr. Morrow, and choirs

Collaborative Performances:

Emmanuel Séjourné: Concerto for Marimba and Strings (piano reduction), with Dr. Corey Robinson, marimba. Midwestern State University

Faculty Recital with Dr. Sarah Dunbar, saxophones, flute, and clarinet. Midwestern State University

Catherine McMichael: Fusion Suite (Fusion, August Beguine, Cygnus and Aquila) with Dr. Sarah Dunbar, saxophone. NASA Region 4 Virtual Conference

Amy Beach: Romance, Op. 23 (transcribed for saxophone and piano) with Dr. Sarah Dunbar, saxophone. NASA Region 9 Virtual Conference

Faculty “Last Friday” Recital with Dr. Christopher Vivio, tuba. Midwestern State University

Ensemble Performances:

David Maslanka “Remember Me” for 19 Players and Solo Cello; piano with MSU Texas Wind Ensemble. Midwestern State University

Principal Keyboardist for the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra (season and education concerts plus WFSO Jazz Ensemble)


2021-22:

Seeking Refuge: Solo Piano Music for Human Rights, the recording project begun as the focus of the sabbatical and support of the Jane Spears Carnes Faculty Creative Endeavors Award, is nearing completion to release. 2021-22 work included mastering the recordings, writing liner (program) notes, aiding in the tray design, and double-checking that tracks stayed in the correct order during various iterations of progress.

First Friday Concerts

September: Celebrating a Musical Theatre Degree with Professor Morgan Mallory

October: Margaret Bonds' Spiritual Suite

November: Drs. Luttrell (trombone) and Morrow (piano)

December: More Music of the Season on the 2nd Friday

March: Ruth Morrow & Friends

April: A Thoroughly Appropriate April Fool's Concert

Solo Performances with Ensemble:

Rhapsody in Blue, with the University Wind Ensemble

Collaborative Performances:

Hosted and performed with area high school instrumentalists in Honors Recital in preparation for State Solo & Ensemble competition

Faculty “Last Friday” Recital with Dr. Christopher Vivio, tuba. Midwestern State University

Ensemble Performances:

Principal Keyboardist for the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra (season and education concerts plus WFSO Jazz Ensemble)

Section keyboardist with the University Wind Ensemble for the commissioned MSU Fanfare, performed at the Centennial Celebration kick-off

Keyboardist for MSU Texas Department of Music Faculty Jazz Ensemble