One of Aotearoa's most versatile violinists, Dr. Arna Morton is a deeply passionate performer, music educator, and composer, comfortable on practically any stage as a soloist, chamber musician, improviser, and orchestral performer. As long as there is an audience, a few lights, and sequins, Arna will bring her dazzling virtuosity and her A game.

Following the completion of both Bachelor and Master of Musical Arts degrees at the New Zealand School of Music, Arna completed her PhD in Violin Performance at the University of Melbourne supervised by Dr. Curt Thompson.

Using a critical, reflexive approach, Arna's PhD research examines the development of a highly-personal interpretive methodology that aims 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 joint-winner of the 2013/14 NZ National Concerto Competition, going on to perform both Szymanowski's First Violin Concerto and Ravel's Tzigane with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.

In 2021, Arna won the position of Principal 2nd Violin with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, and is a founding member of Morton Trio alongside her horn-playing husband Alex Morton and pianist Liam Wooding.

Arna is also a renowned educator through the joint teaching studio Morton Music she shares with her husband located in The Piano, Christchurch, where she mostly teaches advanced students preparing for tertiary-level examinations and competitions.

As an award-winning composer (NZSO Todd Young Composer Award 2011), Arna has also recently rekindled her love for the craft after nearly a decade away from the manuscript – her latest work Summer for Horn Trio will feature on Morton Trio's debut album with a fresh, new style of writing that is markedly different from her previous works.

Alex grew up in Christchurch as an incredibly nerdy musical kid, taking part in every performance opportunity he could get his hands on. While he originally set his sights on learning the trombone, his short eight-year-old arms meant that a french horn was placed in them instead, which thankfully turned out to be a rather fortuitous replacement.

In 2009, Alex moved to Wellington to complete his Bachelor of Music before continuing his studies at the Australian National Academy of Music. It was during his four years at ANAM where he really began to cut his teeth professionally in the wonderfully vibrant music scene that Melbourne – and Australia generally – had to offer, most notably holding contracts with both the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and West Australian Symphony Orchestra, and appearing as Guest Principal Horn with Orchestra Victoria.

“The thing I love most about my industry is the huge variety of experiences it gives to you. I have been fortunate enough to travel around the world with my music, from London to Tokyo, performing with orchestras, in and for ballets and operas, with chamber groups, as a soloist, and even in music festivals for crowds of 25,000 people!”

As a chamber musician, Alex pursues his love of the medium as a member of the internationally-acclaimed ensemble, Morton Trio, with his wife & violinist, Arna Morton, and pianist, Liam Wooding.

In 2020, Alex & Arna moved back to Christchurch where Alex’s career has evolved into a richly fulfilling one. Whilst still performing regularly as one of New Zealand’s most desirable freelance musicians, Alex has also delved headfirst into the fulfilling world of music and performance education. After 10-years of tertiary-level study with world leading performers and pedagogues, Alex is extremely grateful for the opportunity to bring his experience, insights, observations and reflections back to share with his students in New Zealand and internationally, online.

“I firmly believe that for the long term sustainability of anything you are strongly passionate about, it is vitally important to keep some measure of distance from it; therefore, outside of my music, I thoroughly enjoy spending my time bouldering, tramping (hiking), rafting, cycling, eating fine food, and spending quality time with my wife and my dog.”

Liam Wooding (Atihaunui a Paparangi) was born in Whanganui, New Zealand in 1992. His love of the piano was fostered at an early age and developed through piano lessons and an array of musical experiences.
 
He went on to study piano in Auckland and Hamilton under Rae de Lisle and subsequently Katherine Austin, graduating with a Master’s degree in music. He was then accepted into the selective piano class at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) to study with Timothy Young, and remained there for three years. More recently he studied in the United States as a Fulbright Scholar with Aleck Karis.
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Liam is the recipient of numerous awards. He was twice named the University of Waikato’s Creative and Performing Arts Person of the Year, was a prizewinner in the National Concerto Competition in New Zealand, and has received numerous awards from Creative New Zealand.

In his work he performs as a soloist, chamber music partner, and accompanist, and also teaches and coaches younger students. He is a founding member of the Morton Trio, an ensemble consisting of the violin, french horn, and piano that are becoming increasingly recognised for their engaging performances.

Music by New Zealand composers has always been present in his music making, and this interest led him to commence a doctoral degree at the University of Waikato on this topic. As a result, Liam often works with some of New Zealand’s best-known contemporary composers, such as Reuben Jellyman, Janet Jennings, and John Psathas.
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He appears on four albums, Morton Trio (Atoll, 2024), Cabaret Songs (Rattle, 2023), Chamber Music Volume II by Lachlan Skipworth (Cygnus Arioso, 2022) and Play Pen (Atoll, 2019).