Cathy Morris Oral History

In her Amazing Indiana Music Story interview, Cathy Morris reflects on her creative evolution, the development of her signature sound, and the experiences that shaped her role as both an artist and educator. Her story offers insight into the power of originality, collaboration, and community in building a lasting musical legacy in Indiana.

About The Music

In a genre of it’s own by combining contemporary jazz melodies and chords with latin rhythms, funk grooves, fusion, rock, blues, celtic and even cajun fun creating her own distinctive sound she calls “Party Jazz”.

About Cathy

A staple in the Midwest Arts Community for over 20 years as a performer / producer / composer / educator and recording artist, anyone in central Indiana — and throughout the state and region for that matter —with an iota of interest in music is aware of or has heard electric violinist and vocalist Cathy Morris. She has played everywhere — concerts, festival stages, , opening ceremonies, VIP and major televised events.

She has opened for big names like Al Jarreau, Burt Bacharach, George Benson, Chuck Mangione, Rick Braun, Fourplay, Najee and many others. She has also performed her original music as a guest soloist with professional and community orchestras and jazz bands.

A recording artist, Morris also has five CDs of original music to her credit, in addition to her holiday disc entitled “A Cathy Morris Christmas,” the ’05 release “Cathy Morris Latin Jazz” and her ‘06 release “Sacred Romance: violin and piano duets accompanying Sufi poetry.”

As a composer/arranger you can find her original music for string orchestra published by FJH Music, Inc in addition to her catalog of over one hundred other works for string orchestra, quartets, trios, duos and solo violin, violin solo with orchestra and jazz band of original works as well as Holiday, Sacred, Pop and Wedding genres.

A dedicated educator, Morris has also collaborated regularly with students performing convocations, conducting workshops and performing her original music in side-by-side concerts and with student orchestras.

As a producer to her credit in addition to numerous recordings, presentations and philanthropic projects is Arts With A Purpose: Connecting Communities to Artist to create positive individual and social change.

The Amazing Indiana Music Stories series is made possible with support from the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, whose generous funding helps preserve and share Indiana’s rich musical heritage.

Visitors can explore more below, including the Complete Interview, Interview Highlight, and Image Gallery from Cathy Morris’s Amazing Indiana Music Story.

In this Interview Highlight, Cathy Morris recalls beginning the violin at age seven in what she describes as a family coronation, with her sister passing the instrument on to her. She reflects on the influence of her father, hosting an improvisational violin convention that brought Darol Anger and Barbara Higbie to Indiana, and discovering the electric violin—elements that helped shape her signature style, “Party Jazz.”

In her Complete Interview, Cathy Morris traces her musical journey from early childhood through a multifaceted career as a performer, composer, educator, and producer. She expands on the family influences that shaped her musicianship, her exploration of improvisation and genre-blending, the evolution of her work with the electric violin, and the development of her signature sound, “Party Jazz.” The conversation offers a deeper look at her creative philosophy, community engagement, and lasting impact on Indiana’s contemporary music landscape.