Kam Morrill studied composition with Ned Rorem at the Curtis Institute. His music shows its American roots in its emphatic rhythmic drive and its melding of vernacular idioms with the contrapuntal discipline of art music, drawing on models ranging from hymnody and blues to jazz fusion and the minimalist school. Primarily a vocal and operatic composer, he brings his feeling for the singable line to instrumental music as well.
This recital will feature 9 premieres, of works written in Seattle over the past 2 decades. Among the pieces programmed are works for piano, unaccompanied cello, string quartet, piano quartet, and vocal quartet. Participating artists include singers Ryan Bede, Katie Hochman, Kristen Keymont, Brian Minnick, and Katie Stevenson, conductor Roger Nelson, cellist Colin Meek, pianist Nobuko Hasegawa, and the Bella Sala Quartet.