Nick Morrison Honored, Promoted To Full Professorship

Nick Morrison Honored, Promoted To Full Professorship

Utah State University's Nicholas Morrison, a faculty member in the Department of Music, was honored March 17 at the University Residence for his recent promotion to full professor. As part of the Inaugural Lecture Series, Morrison was in the spotlight during a presentation attended by friends and colleagues, including President Kermit Hall, Provost Stan Albrecht and members of faculty from the music department.

Following an introduction by President Hall and Provost Albrecht, Bruce Saperston, head of the Music Department, gave personal insights and paid tribute to Professor Morrison.

"Not only is Nick a superb teacher of the clarinet," said Saperston, "he has a unique ability to effectively teach some of the most difficult fundamentals of music. I’m very proud that Nick is on our faculty."

After Saperston's introduction, Morrison addressed the group, discussing music, teaching and performing. Morrison spoke about teaching students how to perform and the importance of creativity in performing.

"Performing is more than a proficiency process," said Morrison. "It is truly a creative activity. We don't need notes that are new," he said. "We need to create a texture that the composer hasn’t heard."

Morrison complemented his lecture with both a solo performance on the clarinet and with a trio that included colleagues Rick Nobis on the piano and Leslie Timmons on the flute. Morrison also went on to talk about how he chose music as his profession.

"I had actually been accepted into law school but decided to take a year off to try and get into a better school," said Morrison. "I began teaching music to children and I developed a passion for it. Later I heard someone say that the only way you should ever choose music as a profession is if there is absolutely nothing else you could be happy doing. I found that to be true with me."

Morrison concluded his lecture by reemphasizing the importance of creativity in performing and teaching that element of music to his students.

"When you perform, you need to make the composer hear sounds he didn't realize he had written," he said.

Morrison is professor of music and associate director of bands at Utah State University. His teaching responsibilities include clarinet studio, chamber music and symphonic band. He has appeared as soloist with the Orchestre Philharmonique Ste. Trinité in Haiti, with the Notre Dame, New World and Arcata String quartets, and with the Utah Festival Opera Orchestra. He is frequently called upon as an adjudicator, clinician and guest conductor throughout the Intermountain region.

For more information about the Inaugural Professor Lecture series, contact Chris Fawson at (435) 797-0979.