Canadian born Jesse Morrison enjoys a diverse career as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player. Currently in his sixth season as a member of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Jesse expresses his keen desire to help form the minds of young artists by maintaining a private teaching studio, as well as teaching masterclasses and chamber music at Mount Royal University and through the Amici String Program. Recently awarded a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts, Jesse has recorded his upcoming debut solo viola album, “Transitions”, which includes a commission by his friend and composer Derek David for a new solo viola Partita. The album also features a debut recording of “Skizzen für Siegbert” by Brett Dean, as well as works by Telemann and Kurtág.

A devoted chamber musician, he formed both the Neruda Quartet in Boston and Arkadas Quartet in Toronto. He has participated as artist in residence at the Capital City Concerts, Classical Music Institute, Chamberfest West, Concerts in the Barn, Continuum Concerts, Festival Mozaic, Ottawa Chamberfest and NEXUS Chamber Music and is also alumnus of festivals such as the Hindemith Foundation led by Tabea Zimmermann, Yellow Barn, Kneisel Hall, the Banff Centre and Domaine Forget. His music collaborators include Donald Weilerstein, Joel Krosnick, Pekka Kuusisto, the Amici Ensemble, and members of the Arditti, Brentano, Chilingirian and Takács Quartets.

Jesse graduated from the New England Conservatory (NEC) with an M.M. under Kim Kashkashian, the Glenn Gould School with an A.D. under Steven Dann and the University of Toronto with a B.M. under Teng Li. Jesse was awarded first prize for both concerto competitions at NEC, the Borromeo String Quartet Guest Artist Award, as well as the honors award with the Neruda Quartet, all featuring performances in NEC's Jordan Hall. During his time in Toronto, the Arkadas Quartet was awarded the Felix Galimir Award from the University of Toronto with recitals in both Walter Hall and The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

Mr. Morrison has been a representative for “Music for Food” since 2015, a musician-led initiative founded in Boston that has created more than 2 million meals across North America since 2009. Outside of his musical endeavours, Jesse loves exploring his hobbies which includes tea drinking, cooking and travelling. Jesse currently plays on a 1971 Otto Erdesz Viola and a modern bow by Kaspar Pankow.