Right now, Quinton Morris is probably in Malaysia. Or perhaps, he’s making his way to Australia. It’s hard to tell where exactly the virtuoso violinist is exactly as he’s on his first world tour, traveling to countries such as Malaysia, Australia, Tanzania and Taiwan.
But before Morris became a world class musician, before he became a professor at Seattle University, before he created his nonprofit that educates and inspires students of all ages to excel at their craft, he was a student in Renton High School.
“Being in Renton played a really big role in my life,” he said. “When I was in Renton High, I was very active in the high school. I’m very thankful. Even though I’m originally from Chicago, I’ve never been back. I always came back to Renton. You grow where you’re planted. My roots are still there.”
Morris calls his high school years very “formative” and that his class, class of 1996, was probably one of the best classes to come out of the school. “Of course, I’m being biased,” he said with a chuckle.
Morris had his heart set to pursue law in college. However, one teacher’s influence helped him change his path.
“Teachers play such a vital roles in students’ lives. In my case, that teacher’s name was Rachel Jordan,” said Morris with a familiar fondness. “She played such a pivotal role in my life. She was just an incredible teacher and she was someone I looked up to. I had never seen a professional African American violinist in my life. Since she was the first, she inspired me. I wanted to have a career just like her.”
Jordan’s influence changed Morris’ life trajectory. After working his way up to get his doctorate in music arts and then landing a professorship at Seattle University, he longed to bring together his passions in a more meaningful way. That was the beginning of the Quinton Morris Project, Morris’ nonprofit that aims to inspire and equip music students and entrepreneurs.
“While being here in Seattle University is an amazing opportunity for me, I wanted to have a more grassroots project where I could mentor students and people from around the world,” Morris said. “My nonprofit allows me to do that.”
At his nonprofit, he works with students who are unable to afford music classes, conducts masterclasses and even helps entrepreneurs get their feet off the ground with their ideas. It’s his way of equipping young creatives, redefining success and inspiring people of all ages to find their “true path.”
The world tour that Morris is currently in the middle of is an extension of his heart for the project.
The tour is broken into three parts. The first component is what you would expect from a musician on tour, a typical performance with a twist. “The best way to describe it is a TED talk with a fiddle,” said Morris (who has been up on the TEDxSeattle stage with his fiddle before). “When you come to a Quinton Morris concert, what you’re going to get is me performing, then you’re going to hear me speak about the music of this composer Chevalier de Saint-Georges.”
The performance also includes a movie (which Morris directed, produced, edited and starred in), a reintroduction of sorts of the 18th century musician set in modern landscape. Morris describes it as a “sleek, sexy, 21st century film that is catered toward the millennial.”
“There’s no powdered wigs, there’s no men in tights and that kind of stuff,” explained Morris. “It’s planes and cars and smoking and sex and fighting and all the things you would see in a short blockbuster film.”
The second leg of the tour is geared toward one of Morris’ deepest passions: education. “Wherever I go, I teach masterclasses and work with students of all different demographics, teaching lessons and masterclasses,” he said. He also works with budding entrepreneurs by helping them go over their business plan and walking through their visions and missions.
The third act of the tour, Morris does something that is deeply personal to him — visiting hospitals and orphanages in every country he visits to play music to kids. It’s less of a pity-project, but more of an act of gratitude as Morris is a cancer survivor.
“This is the 20th year that my cancer has been in remission,” he said. “I was diagnosed in 1996 with stage four Hodgkin’s lymphoma. So this year, my 20th year of remission, I have been going to hospitals and orphanages, performing to kids which has been really wonderful.”
Morris has gained international reputation for not only his musical abilities, but also for his entrepreneurial and humanitarian spirit. And yet, with all the fame and acclaim he has received, Morris still considers himself a “Rentonite” through and through. He has even helped teach a masterclass at Nelsen Middle School.
“That was a lot of fun working with them and teaching them all kinds of tricks on their instruments,” he said. “I really enjoyed working with those kids, especially the sixth graders. Not to be biased, but the sixth graders are truly great!”
