Conservatory Alumni Perform Together in Tucson Symphony Orchestra

Betsy Bright Morgan ’03 performed as a substitute with the Pittsburgh Symphony on March 15 and March 17 in Heinz Hall. She is currently playing her 16th season with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra (TSO) where she is second trumpet. She has also served as the orchestra’s personnel manager since 2014. She is a member of the Tucson Symphony Brass Quintet, Monsoon Brass, Grammy-nominated True Concord Voices & Orchestra, and the Tucson Pops Orchestra. Additionally, she has performed as substitute trumpet with the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony, Arizona Opera and Britt Music Festival.

She is also deeply committed to brass pedagogy. She teaches a thriving private trumpet studio, is a frequent clinician with the local youth orchestra in Tucson and has presented many masterclasses for the University of Arizona’s Fred Fox School of Music. She is the founder and director of Tucson Brass Workshop, an intensive brass chamber music seminar for all ages in Arizona.

She is married to Shenandoah alumnus David Morgan ’03 who is the principal tuba in the Tucson Symphony. They have two sons, Max (age five) and Oliver (age two).

David Morgan has been the principal tuba of the TSO since 2010. David is a member of the TSO Brass Quintet, Tucson Pops Orchestra, True Concord Voices & Orchestra, and Monsoon Brass. He has performed as guest principal tuba with the San Diego Symphony and Phoenix Symphony, and he has participated in the Aspen, Hot Springs and Bay View music festivals. He has been featured as a soloist with the TSO, Tucson Pops Orchestra and Arizona Symphonic Winds. He is on the faculty of Tucson Brass Workshop and teaches a private tuba/euphonium studio.