Viola da gamba And CELLO
Miriam Morris is a viola da gamba player of international repute and has varied career as a soloist and chamber musician. In addition to her work with early music ensembles, she has appeared as a specialist baroque performer with the major symphony, opera and chamber orchestras of Australia, including the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Pinchgut Opera.
Miriam has performed in Arts Festivals throughout Australia and has played with Consort Eclectus, Convivio and Trio Versailles. She has toured throughout Australia, the US, New Zealand, England and Sweden.
Having pioneered the teaching of viols at primary and secondary level in ensemble-based programmes in South Australia and Victoria Miriam has run viola da gamba programmes at North Adelaide Primary School and Presbyterian Ladies College, Burwood, Victoria. She has given art/music workshops at the Australian National Academy of Music and in 2009 received a grant from the Nillumbik Shire Council to work and perform with primary and secondary students in the field of graphic scores resulting in a concert and exhibition at Montsalvat.
Miriam is on the staff as a teacher of the viola da gamba at the Early Music Studio, the University of Melbourne and has taught at the Victorian College of the Arts and Monash University where she lectured on the art of instrumental teaching. She has an active private practice teaching both the cello and viola da gamba.
In addition to her work as an examiner, Miriam wrote the previous cello syllabus and Technical Work Book for the Australian Music Examinations Board and has written the technical component for the most recent cello syllabus published in 2009. Having examined for over 30 years, she retired in 2017
Her numerous publications include both cello and viol tutors. Her private studio caters for all age groups including adult beginners.
Miriam’s solo CD of solo works and songs of Tobias Hume on the ‘Move’ label received international critical acclaim. She has also recorded the Handel Recorder Sonatas with Ruth Wilkinson and John O’Donnell for ABC Classics. Consort Eclectus recorded its first CD in 2007 with commissioned works by Australian composers Natalie Williams and Calvin Bowman.
Miriam is at present writing a tutor for the viola da gamba to be published by Saraband Music.