Arna Morton
Newly appointed as Principal 2nd Violin of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Arna Morton is thrilled to be home performing for New Zealand audiences after completing her PhD in Violin Performance at the University of Melbourne, following the completion of both Bachelor and Master of Musical Arts degrees at the New Zealand School of Music under the tutelage of Associate Professor, Helene Pohl.
Using a critical, reflexive approach, Arna's PhD research examined the development of a highly-personal interpretive methodology that aimed to create personal authenticity in her musical interpretations and performances, with a significant focus on Britten’s Violin Concerto, which she performed with the University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in 2016 as winner of the 2015 MCM Concerto Competition.
Arna was also a prizewinner in the 2016 Gisborne International Music Competition and joint-winner of the 2013/14 New Zealand National Concerto Competition, going on to perform both Szymanowski's First Violin Concerto and Ravel's Tzigane with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.
As a chamber musician, Arna is a founding member of the internationally-acclaimed ensemble, The Morton Trio, performing regularly alongside her husband and horn player, Alex Morton, and fellow-Kiwi pianist, Liam Wooding. In 2019, The Morton Trio toured the United Kingdom with the Royal-Overseas League, performing at esteemed venues such as St Martin’s in the Fields and St James Piccadilly, as well as a New Zealand tour with Chamber Music New Zealand.
Alongside teaching premium violin lessons out of her Christchurch-based private music studio, in 2020, Arna co-founded The HIIP Method™ Online Course to coach budding musicians in the art of efficient and effective practice.