Olwen Morris was a Welsh classical music artist who was born on October 22, 1920, in the town of Llanelli, Wales. She was the daughter of a Welsh-speaking family, and her father was a coal miner. Morris showed an early interest in music, and her parents encouraged her to pursue her passion. She began playing the piano at the age of six and later learned to play the violin. Morris attended the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, where she studied under the renowned violinist Albert Sammons. She graduated with honors in 1941 and went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Morris was a gifted musician, and her talent was recognized early on. She won several awards and scholarships, including the prestigious Mendelssohn Scholarship in 1943. Morris made her debut as a soloist with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in 1944, playing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. The performance was a great success, and Morris received critical acclaim for her virtuosity and musicality. She went on to perform with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic. Morris was known for her passionate and expressive playing, and she was particularly admired for her interpretations of the works of Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. She was also a champion of contemporary music and premiered several works by British composers, including William Walton and Benjamin Britten. In addition to her solo career, Morris was a member of several chamber music ensembles, including the Amadeus Quartet and the Melos Ensemble. She also taught at the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she was a highly respected and influential teacher. Morris received many awards and honors throughout her career, including the Order of the British Empire in 1971 and the Queen's Medal for Music in 2005. She was also a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Morris continued to perform and teach well into her eighties, and she remained an active and beloved figure in the classical music world until her death on September 28, 2010, at the age of 89. Her legacy as a musician and teacher lives on, and she is remembered as one of the greatest violinists of the twentieth century.

More....