Morag Northey - Biography

Cellist, singer, songwriter, composer, teacher and pianist

Morag was born in Eugene Oregon, and moved shortly after into a Canadian childhood of ocean, rain forest, and music - Victoria, Port Moody, and Vancouver B.C. Her last 20 years have been spent as a Calgarian, where in Calgary, Banff, Edmonton & Canmore, she became many more versions of 'Morag': cellist, singer, songwriter, composer, teacher, pianist and poet.

Classical training at the Vancouver Academy, Victoria Conservatory of Music, Banff Centre, Toronto's Royal Conservatory Orchestral Training Program, University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Calgary, helped build a solid foundation for Morag's professional career. She was contractor, leader, soloist, chamber musician, and arranger in the VAD Ensembles ((1991-2010), has performed with a number orchestras, including Austin Symphony and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, has played cello in Les Miserables (Mirvish Productions), The Phantom of the Opera (Live Ent. Inc. Touring Orchestra), West Side Story, Anne of Green Gables, Annie, Beauty and the Beast and the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Theatre Calgary), as well as the Royal Winnipeg and the National Ballet touring Orchestras.

Morag performs for a wide variety of events such as: One Yellow Rabbit's 25th Anniversary with Calgary's Rembetika Hipsters. She has freelanced with celebrities: Tony Bennett, Lyle Lovett, Johnny Mathis, Linda Ronstadt, and Rod Stewart. She has recorded with artists: Wil,Wendy Bird, Anne Lorree, Steve Coffee, Kristophe Franz, Jeff Landeen, Brent Tyler, Lin Elder, Jasmine Whenem, Jane Hawley, Mike Stack, Onalea Gilberston, Nancy Laberge and, the Travelling Mabels. Lilies of the Field (a recording on which Morag is composer, arranger, cellist, singer and co-producer) was nominated most "Inspirational Album of the Year" for the Gospel Music Association of Canada's 29th annual Covenant Awards, 2007.

Morag's theatrical work of the last 5 years has been developed by her interest in multi-style theatrical presentation. Through her: vocal/drama work with Richard Armstrong at the Banff Centre; as an onstage musician in David Rhymer's "Why Freud Fainted" ; study in the One Yellow Rabbit Theatre Company's Summer Lab Intensive; multi-media CD release Event; part in Onalea Gilberton's play: Blanche (was a porcelain doll and sound design collaborator); as a pestering sub-conscious to the Queen Lear in Eugene Stickland's play Queen Lear.

Morag is currently developing Run the Wind (started Summer 2010, at a Sunset Theatre Artist Retreat, Wells B.C.) where she will play many characters in her own one-woman show. Morag is thrilled to now be joined by Director: Wayne Paquette (Director in Residence, Citadel Theatre, Edmonton AB), and Musical Director Don Horsburgh (Musical Director - Citadel Theatre).

Morag's exclusive engagement for 2010 Athlete Olympic and Paralympic Villages saw her perform for the world's top athletes on a nightly basis, Governor General of Canada Her Excellency Michaelle Jean, Team Welcome Ceremonies, an International Woman's Day Celebration, and the Athlete's Parade. For the closing Volunteer Appreciation luncheon, Morag wrote an impromptu song with Prince Andrew in attendance.

Since releasing her debut album "This is the Life" with Red Venus Blue Tango (RVBT) Morag has: recorded two a Videos; "Sending Love"Don Horsburgh, A&L Chirka Video) and "Piece of Paper" (RVBT, Jesse Corderre Video), opened for East Village Opera Company, played the Calgary Solstice Festival, The Arts Wells Festival, Fish Creek Outdoor Festival, and created and performed a Spoken word & Musical show Love is the Subject at the Ironwood in Calgary. Morag and RVBT were honoured to be asked to play the closing night VIP reception for the Dalai Lama "Now" Tour.

A recent concert at the Evergreen Cultural Centre in Coquitlam B.C. featured songs from her debut album as well as selections from over 250 pieces of prose, poetry, and song, compiled, revisited, and composed while on an intensive artist retreat summer of 2009, at the Sunset Theatre in Wells B.C and to the present.

Creating original music and collaborating with others to bring artistic visions to life, is one of Morag's great passions. An exciting creative convergence was ignited during the Olympics where Morag brought three distinctly different cultures: Traditional Squamish and Cree Songs, vocals and drumming; her distinctive improvised cello and vocals, and European classical J.S. Bach's Prelude No. 1 in GM performance; with African Gjembe drumming; all together creating one magically united world sound. Whether it be performing original compositions as cellist and singer, or simultaneously accompanying herself with drums (Springboard Dance Company's Vertical Dance production 'Corvidea' by Trina Rasmusen), or using three different cellos and cello tunings, played standing and dancing to her composed soundtrack of five songs (One Yellow Rabbit 2008 Summer Lab Intensive final performance)… Morag's creative inspiration continually leads her to push boundaries of expression. She has written, arranged, performed and expressed her talents for the Original Canadian Folk and Improv group Tsk, for the Parisian Moulin Rouge, French Art Song Duo, She, and Cielo, an experimental mixed genre group including: Opera and Pop singers, a jazz drummer, a computer sound specialist and Cello and Keyboard.

Working in film is one of Morag's favourite callings. Her music can be heard as recording artist in the Canadian Film Productions: Opening Night, the Former Mrs. Butterfly, Beauty Crowds Me, and the Genie-nominated short, Claire (Julie Trimingham, Ric Kokotovich, Cracker Films). She composed and recorded cello and piano in the sound score for Nicole Tritter's dance film Enticed, and has been heard on soundtracks for film and music video with composer Bruce Leitl at Six Degrees. While Calgary group Cielo originally showcased her songs, it was And so it Goes with Brent VanDusen (later Red Venus Blue Tango) that took them on the road performing in the US and Canada (Canadian Embassy Washington D.C., Alberta at the Smithsonian, and celebrating Alberta's 100th year - Alberta Scene - Ottawa through Steven Carter of Carter McRae).

Morag brings all the music home to her Broadview Cello Studio of 30 students ages 2-65, her Early Childhood Cello Class (Mount Royal University - Calgary) and her adult cello choir Good Vibrations. Teaching has always been an integral part of Morag's world.

Morag loves being Mommy to her two beautiful daughters - all together a great homemade pot of gypsy goulash! …

And the dance continues!

Enticed
Composer, cellist and pianist

An Opera About Divorce

the Former Mrs. Butterfly,
Lola Films – Cellist

Cracker Films – Cellist