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Who Are We
John Morgan
Morgan Music Founder
John Morgan has a passion for music education and performance and believes in bringing out the best in musicians, vocal groups and individual artists he works with by creating a working environment that fosters learning, creativity, musical development, collaboration, and fun. John focuses on directing multi-genre vocal groups, as well as delivering full-service music direction for local artists, corporations and events through his studio, Morgan Music, in Calgary. He is a conductor, organist, pianist, recording engineer and published composer and arranger whose work has been performed by groups across North America including the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.
John is the Artistic Director of Revv52, a 52 -voice auditioned pop vocal group; Artistic Director of Mount Royal Kantorei, an auditioned 82-voice mixed chorus which is part of Mount Royal University's Conservatory; Vocal Director of the Young Canadians, a 120 member auditioned vocal and dance group made up of youth and young adults between the ages of 8-21 and is the Music Director and Organist at St. Anthony’s Church. He also works with a variety of other musical groups and ensembles in the City.
John has provided musical direction for special events including the 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Club, One Rock Music Festival, The Tenor's "Home For the Holidays" (2018) and "The Wonder of Christmas" (2019), Dave Kelly Live "Home", The We Day Benefit Concert, and over 30 Young Canadians Shows.
Through his work with the Young Canadians and the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show, John has had the opportunity to work with Tamara Beatty (The Voice), Scott Henderson (Earthtones and Souls in Rhythm), Dave Pierce (Producer - Michael Buble, Vancouver Olympics), Paul Brandt, Jocelyn Alice and play keys for Jann Arden.
When not performing or teaching, John can be found travelling, especially on long motorcycle trips, always looking for the next adventure.
Revv52 - Artistic Director 2019 - Present
The Young Canadians - Vocal Director 2010 - Present
Mount Royal University's Kantorei - Artistic Director 2014 - Present
St. Anthony's Church - Music Director / Organist 1999 - Present
National Council for Liturgical Music - Chair 2016 - 2020
conocoPhilips Choir - Director 2014 - Present
Bishop Carroll High School - Accompanist 2010 - Present
Artistic Director - WE Benefit Concert 2015 - 2017
Cassandra (Cass) Bessette
Music Production Assistant
Cass is an aspiring choral composer and conductor currently working toward her BMus in Composition at the University of Calgary. She has sung with a number of ensembles in the Calgary area including Mount Royal Artio, Mount Royal Kantorei, Cum Vino Cantus, Calgary Youth Orchestra, and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Through her work with these ensembles, Cass has had the opportunity to perform alongside artists such as Tanya Tagaq, Chris Hadfield, The Tenors, and Tony DeSare. She also had the honour of directing the St. Matthew’s United Church choir for their final season until their closing in June 2020.
While the typical stand-and-deliver choral model still serves its purpose, Cass is particularly fulfilled by more elaborate interdisciplinary works. Passionate about challenging and controversial topics, she is currently working on a choral theatre piece which explores the spectrum of human emotion through a story of trauma and recovery. Cass believes that the pursuit of a raw, honest musical experience always leads to the greatest personal revelations for artists and audiences alike and strives to evoke a certain level of discomfort in most of her creative endeavors.
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cass has been given an excuse to make public her (previously) secret love affair with the recording arts. In 2020, she had a hand in producing a fair number of virtual choirs, including Kantorei’s Women Rising project and Artio’s Metropolis silent film videos. In her time at Morgan Music, Cass has worked on Invictus for Mount Royal Kantorei, We Three Kings and December's Keep for the Calgary Men's Chorus and other virtual projects. You can check out her work on the virtual video page
Garrett Banfield
Intern
Garrett Banfield is a high school student and an aspiring music director, composer and producer. His passion for music drives his desire to excel as he gains both an education and hands-on experience in the music industry. He is training to direct a wide variety of vocal and instrumental groups and teach a variety of music from classical to rock. Additionally he is currently taking a mount royal course in choral conducting under Andrea Ciona, royal conservatory piano under Linda kundert-Stoll and conducting the congregation in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Garrett attends Bishop Carroll High School where he’s a member of the chamber choir, an auditioned classical choir, and the vocal Jazz program, which is a smaller auditioned choir where they perform jazz and rock classics. When not performing or learning, Garrett is often writing classical compositions from piano sonatas to orchestrated symphonies.
Garrett has also had the opportunity to work with Scott Henderson (Grandstand Show music director, Earthtones, Souls in Rhythm) and Dave Pierce (Grandstand show creative director, producer-Michael Buble, Vancouver Olympics) through the Young Canadians programs.
Bishop Carroll Chamber Choir - Member 2023 - Present
Bishop Carroll Vocal Jazz Choir - Member 2023 - Present
Mount Royal University Choral Conducting - Student 2023 - Present
Royal Conservatory Piano, Linda Kundert-Stoll - Student 2023 - Present
Solo Vocal, Lauren Woods - Student 2021 - Present
Young Canadians of the Calgary Stampede/Young Canadians school of the performing arts - Member 2018 - 2023
Cantaré children's choir - Member 2014 - 2016
Youth Singers Calgary - Member 2016 - 2018
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - Conductor - 2021 - Present
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