Former CBC Sask. Future 40 recipient Melissa Morgan still grateful for nomination

Music has been a constant in Melissa Morgan's life. 

She remembers the joy of watching her mother play the organ in church and singing gospel songs with her family.

That joy inspired her to learn the piano and develop her singing voice. Eventually, it led to a career in music education and the opportunity to share her passion with students in Regina. 

Morgan was named a CBC Saskatchewan Future 40 winner in 2017 for her positive impact on Regina's music scene. She said the honour definitely caught her by surprise.

At the time she was teaching music at Luther College High School. She remembers the exact moment she found out she had received the award.

"I was in parent-teacher interviews and almost about to interview the last parent when I got a call from Shauna Powers from CBC Radio and I thought it was a prank call. I remember she said something about how I was nominated and asked if I could come down to the studio," Morgan said.

"The whole time I was like, 'is this real?'"

Morgan was nominated by her friend and mentor, Diana Woolrich, who is well-known in Regina's choral music community. Woolrich conducted the Juventis children's choir, which performed before packed crowds in Regina and across Canada. 

Morgan was a member of the choir and credits Woolrich for sparking her interest in choral conducting. She was flattered to have been nominated by someone who means so much to her.

"I just thought, 'oh wow, you still think of me in this way?' It was really great."

Morgan says being nominated with other respected musicians gave her extra confidence. 

"I think Amy Nelson was nominated and Gordon Gerrard was nominated. Then there was me. That was really cool because Gordon Gerrard is the director of the Regina Symphony Orchestra. He's a big name! Amy Nelson has all these country-western music awards. And then there's me," she said.

"It really showed that whatever facet or genre or specialty you're in, you're equal. Someone in Saskatchewan values what you do and wants to celebrate you."

A career in music

Morgan taught at Luther College High School for 11 years and made music with students every day. She taught band, directed the choir and served as the musical director for the school's annual music production. 

Today, Morgan can be found at the University of Regina in a variety of roles. She is the university's choral director, an assistant professor of choral studies and the interim head of the department of music.

Morgan admits there is a lot on her schedule, but says she loves that the university choir she conducts can rehearse and perform in person again. The pandemic forced students to perform their choir parts online, often in tiny spaces in their homes.

"I don't know if you've ever tried to sing in the closet before, but it's not a fun experience. You sound and feel dreadful," Morgan said. "To be back in a live space and to see other people, that energy you receive from being among others who are like-minded and doing the same thing as you are, is a great feeling."

Morgan compares being part of a live choir to a well-loved Saskatchewan experience.

"It's like going to a Rider game," she said. "It's just a great energy and everyone feels good."

'A big, strong rock in my life'

Brianna Levesque understands the passion and commitment Morgan brings to a choir. 

Levesque was four years-old when Morgan started teaching her to play the piano. Levesque then enrolled in vocal lessons with Morgan and eventually became a member of her university choir while studying music education at the University of Regina. 

Levesque, who now teaches music at Regina's Winston Knoll Collegiate, is grateful for Morgan's life-long mentorship.

"Melissa has been a big, strong rock in my life. I really do look up to her. She plays flute and piano and is a choral director and of course is a singer. I play flute and I'm a choral director and I play piano and sing! I just look up to her and admire her in every single way."

Her toughest critic

Morgan has cultivated a supportive and caring music community in Regina, but she acknowledges there is one critic who will always let her know if she is off-key: her dog, Flash. 

When Morgan teaches students at her home, Flash is always listening intently, ready to give feedback on the performance.

"When it's that moment when the music is at its best or when I think, 'oh, this is good. I really found a perfect resonance or tone,' or my students sound good, Flash begins to sing. She kind of mumbles to herself a bit and then she'll full out howl and begin singing," Morgan said.

"She only does this when the music is good. When the music is not good, she does not sing. That's why I think in her past life she must have been a musician."