Morgan Sutherland

Percussionist Morgan Sutherland is a performer and educator who thrives in the world of contemporary music, inspired by the unique nuances of individual expression. Most recently, she completed an artistic apprenticeship with world-renowned marimbist Katarzyna Myćka at the Stanisław Moniuszko Academy of Music in Gdańsk, Poland, through the Fulbright Program. While in Poland, she performed at the Second International Percussion Marathon and the International Marimba Festiva Solo Competition.

Before her time abroad, Morgan performed in the Oh My Ears contemporary music festival, PRISMS Contemporary Music Festival, and Phoenix Symphony’s Contemporary Music Festival. In 2022, she was awarded a residency at the Avaloch Farm Music Institute, where she collaborated with composer Seare Farhat on a new work for singing percussionist.

She has premiered new chamber works at events across North America and Europe, including the College Music Society Conference (Vancouver, B.C.), the Cortona Sessions for New Music (Italy), the International Katarzyna Myćka Marimba Academy (Poland), the Arosa Kultur Marimba Course (Switzerland), and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (Indianapolis). She has been recognized as an Undergraduate Research Scholar in 2018 while attending the Sō Percussion Institute, and in 2017 was named an International Teaching Scholar, performing, teaching, and volunteering throughout Costa Rica.

Morgan held graduate teaching assistantships while completing her DMA at Arizona State University with Michael Compitello and her MM at the University of Massachusetts Amherst with Ayano Kataoka. She is currently pursuing a Professional Performance Certificate at UMass under the direction of Ayano Kataoka. A native of Hampton, Virginia, she first discovered her love of performing as the drummer in her local rock band, Magenta.