Daniel Morrison ’16

Music Composition

Biography

I am a sinner saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. On the professional side of things, I am a musician living in Baltimore, Maryland. My primary instrument is bass trombone, and I have a background in composition and arranging as well. I currently teach brass instruments as the Brass Fellow for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra OrchKids, and I perform as bass trombonist with the Hopkins Symphony Orchestra and the BSO OrchKids Brass Band.

After graduating from Taylor, I performed with Tim Zimmerman and the King's Brass, performing approximately 200 times around the country as well as recording and arranging for the group. During my two years of graduate school at the University of Delaware for a master's degree in bass trombone performance, I spent two summers playing with the CAMP-of-the-WOODS Resort Orchestra. I've also had the opportunity to perform with the Pennsylvania Philharmonic Orchestra, Montgomery County Chorale and Orchestra, Central Pennsylvania Oratorio Singers, and at the International Fellowship of Conductors, Composers, and Collaborators.

What were some of your most valuable experiences at Taylor?

Some of my most valuable experiences at Taylor were collaborations with others. From playing gigs with the jazz combo to composing music for the the theatre's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream to the experience I gained organizing and rehearsing musicians for my composition recital, I was able to develop some of the most important skills you can gain—working with others in a creative setting to build something better and more beautiful than you could on your own.

How did your classes or interactions with professors at Taylor impact your growth?

It was a blessing to be pushed by my professors to be excellent. Dr. Rediger in the Chorale, Dr. Angell in opera and musical theatre, Tracy Manning in the theatre—these and more drove me to work hard to become better at my craft and to build habits of excellence. Taylor also helped give me a wider base of understanding of Christian faith. Perhaps the most impactful class I took was my Urban Ministry and the Kingdom of God class with Dr. Draper. Its effect on how I view the scope of the gospel has echoed through my life right up to the place and way I am seeking to live today.

How can Taylor graduates use their unique Taylor education and its liberal arts foundational core as an asset in your discipline?

It's great to hone in on your craft and gain technical skills; however, we are not simply one-dimensional beings. What does it matter if you can write an amazing melody if you have nothing to write it about, no one to write it for, and no one to perform it with? None of us can individually accomplish everything that needs to be done in every area in which God is calling His Church to engage the world as a part of His amazing plan of redemption. We cannot give our full energy to gaining all the necessary knowledge and wisdom and skills to engage across the whole breadth of human experience and vocation. We need each other, and we need to work together, to find commonality and unity, even in diversity, and, dare I say it, disagreement. So it is important to find an area to focus on and really seek to become an expert in. However, that expertise will only be strengthened by learning about other parts of the human experience. As a musician, my craft is strengthened by reading books, by playing chess, by going for walks, by gardening, if for no other reason than these things help me to realize that the world does not depend on me excelling at my craft—it gives me an appropriate perspective of my place in the world. However, I think it goes deeper than that. Learning and growing in other areas of your life will serve as fuel to inform, enrich, and guide your work. And at the end of the day, relationships, not professional accomplishments, are what generally make the deepest impact. How will you grow as a whole person so that everyone who relates to you will benefit, not just from your professional expertise, but from the person you have become across all facets of your life?

What advice or encouragement could you provide for Taylor students in your vocational discipline?

My advice to Taylor students in the performing arts is to not overcommit (learn to say no to your persuasive professors!), get enough sleep, work hard at your craft without getting caught up in perfectionism, and live life outside of the practice room on occasion. Don’t let FOMO rule your life, but rather make the most of being invested and present wherever you are, with whomever you are with—love the person right in front of you. And if you have a creative idea or a dream, share it with some trusted friends, and then see who you can bring into your circle to start making those ideas reality. So much is accomplished simply by sharing, so start sharing your ideas and your work today. Also, on that note, read “Steal Like an Artist” and “Show Your Work” by Austin Kleon—they are short, excellent, and practical reads. If you don’t have a website, get one (and make it look better than mine!) You can start simple, but having a place to call your own on the World Wide Web is an important step in gaining traction as a creative and showcasing your portfolio. Also, feel free to reach out to me with any questions or ideas—I always enjoy meeting other Taylor folks!