CORNELIA COTTON ON THE UPCOMING STEPHEN MORRIS TRIBUTE:
The Croton Council on the Arts is sponsoring a concert of The Chamber Players of Croton on Sunday, January 29, at 2:00pm at the Unitarian Fellowship, 2012 Old Albany Post Road, Croton. The concert is given in remembrance and celebration of the life of Stephen Morris, the founder of the ensemble and its guiding spirit until his untimely death last October.
Stephen Arthur Morris was born in 1949 to Benjamin and Rachel Morris of Glen Cove, Long Island. He showed early promise in both academics and music. Both were fulfilled in his lifetime. As a musician, Stephen first studied piano with his mother, an accomplished musician, and later took up the flute as his favorite instrument. He was accepted into the prestigious Curtis Institute, where he studied under William Kincaid, later Julius Baker, two legendary flautists. Stephen was also accepted by the University of Pennsylvania on a full academic scholarship. Graduating Summa Cum Laude, he then entered Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In 1979 Stephen was awarded both a Doctor of Medicine degree and a Phd. in Pharmacology, becoming the first student to be granted both degrees at that institution.
While Stephen continued to play the flute, his professional career was in medicine and pharmacological research.
The first half of his professional life was spent practicing medicine at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York, where he was also an Associate Professor of Medicine. Later, in the mid-1990's, he turned his attention to the pharmaceutical industry, dedicating his talents to developing life-saving drug therapies. At the time of his death, he was Senior Director of Clinical Research at Progenics Pharmaceuticals, in Tarrytown.
After moving to Croton-on-Hudson in 2008, Stephen became involved with the Croton Council on the Arts. He quickly distinguished himself by establishing The Chamber Players of Croton-- a talented and dynamic group of chamber musicians, but he was interested in promoting all areas of the arts. As Vice President of the group, he envisioned a newly-flourishing Council that would become a strong presence in our community.
To all his endeavors he brought a keen intelligence, irrepressible spirit, and infectious sense of humor.
Stephen Morris is survived by his partner of 17 years and later spouse, Jeff Murphy, of Croton, his mother, Rachel Morris of Glen Cove, a sister, Linda Lang of Manhattan, numerous loving nieces and nephews, and countless friends.
The concert will feature music by Bach, Debussy, Glazunov, Hovhannes, Poulenc, Rimsky-Korsakov, and others. Performers will include Ann Butler, flute, Gina Serafin, oboe and English horn, Greg Kullberg, clarniet, Liz Dejean, French Horn, Edwin Cabrera, bassoon, Erika Schenker, piano, and Terri Hoover-Huntington, soprano. Admission is free; refreshments will be served. All are invited.
As usual Cornelia, you have created a wonderful tribute.
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