Dr. Ruby Norris Morgan
pianist ⋅ educator ⋅ friend
by Anne Katherine Stiekes ’18
Ruby Norris Morgan joined the Furman Music Faculty in 1968, while working on doctoral studies at Florida State University. She immediately began investing in the lives of students while continuing a performing career outside the University. Dr. Morgan has given countless performances for the community over the years, including performances with the Brevard Music Center Orchestra, Greenville Symphony Orchestra, and Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra.
A concert that was especially meaningful to Dr. Morgan during her time at Furman was performing Bartok’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Greenville Symphony in 1975. This was before the Peace Center when the symphony performed in McAlister Auditorium, and Dr. Morgan thought of the GSO as practically part of Furman from a performing standpoint.
As a chamber musician, Ruby Morgan formed the Danielle Trio for many years with horn player Gayle Chesebro and soprano Gayle Sheard and gave several performances at Furman. Later, Dr. Morgan joined the Heritage Chamber players.
During the later years of her career, Dr. Morgan has compiled many works for left hand alone, and has given a series of left hand recitals. This past fall, Dr. Morgan brought her career at Furman to a full circle by performing some of the pieces she had originally auditioned with arranged for left hand, including Chopin’s “Octave Etude” and the first movement of Beethoven’s Op. 110. Dr. Morgan’s work for left hand has culminated into an anthology for left hand alone. Publishing this anthology is one of the projects she looks forward to having time for as she retires this year. This collection will be a valuable contribution to the world of left hand repertoire.
Dr. Morgan’s other project is pushing for Furman University to become a Steinway School. She is excited to spend her time fundraising in the next several months.
Ruby Morgan will miss her students at Furman, but looks forward to catching up with old friends and taking some trips to Europe. She is interested in visiting Arezzo, the Loire Valley, Scandinavia, Estonia, and Berlin.
Hello to Dr Ruby Morgan and congratulations on your retirement. This is someone who had the pleasure of meeting you when a member of the Brevard Music Center’s faculty and violinist with the faculty orchestra under Henry Janiec summers of 1974 and 75. I hope you had the opportunity to do some of your travels prior to the pandemic. All the best from Emily Nicholl of Woodbury NJ .
Dr. Morgan, could you possibly be the fantastic piano teacher I remember from Albany Junior College (Georgia) around 1970? I still play Clementi’s Sonatina…and I think of you. You were so inspirational. Thank you for sharing your musical gifts with me.
I would like to contact Prof. Ruby Morgan with regard to her version of the Bach-Brahms chaconne. I am presently writing a book on the performing history of Bach’s Chaconne, which includes transcriptions, and would like to know more about her work in this area. Thank you very much in advance for transmitting this request to her.