Washington's Key to Change Organization Appoints Composer in Residence

Multi-GRAMMY nominated violinist and composer, Curtis Stewart, will serve as the third Composer in Residence for the 2022-2023 academic year

Key to Change, a Washington State 501c3 nonprofit organization, assists underserved youth through music instruction and supports their leadership development. Founded and directed by violinist, educator, and entrepreneur Dr. Quinton Morris, Key to Change aims to eliminate the “starving artist” mentality and provide young artists with the educational tools and resources they need in order to thrive as musicians.

Curtis Stewart will serve as Composer in Residence for the 2022-2023 academic year. In the role, he will compose original compositions for violin and viola string students of all musical levels. Students of Key to Change will study his pieces, and work with Stewart in guest artist master classes. His residency will culminate in student performances of his works at the annual Solo String Festival and Benaroya Hall. Additionally, students will premiere his musical works in a special concert featuring Stewart.

Based in New York, Stewart performs inmultiple genres and has played with Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, and Seal. He has performed as a classical soloist at Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall, and held chamber music residencies at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, National Sawdust, and appearances at the Newport Jazz Festival.

His ensembles include PUBLIQuartet and The Mighty Third Rail and has worked with artists including Henry Threadgill, Jessie Montgomery, Alicia Hall-Moran and Jason Moran, Mark O’Connor, members of International Contemporary Ensemble, Billy Childs, Diane Monroe, the JACK quartet, members of Snarky Puppy, Don Byron, Linda Oh,  Ari Hoenig, Matt Wilson, among many others.

As an educator, he has taught Chamber Music and “Cultural Equity and Performance Practice” at the Juilliard School, Directed the Contemporary Chamber Music program at the Perlman Music Program, and served on the Board of Concert Artist Guild.

A graduate of Eastman School of Music and the University of Roches, he is currently the Chamber Music and New Juilliard Ensemble Manager at the Juilliard School.

“I am so excited to dig into this work with the students of Key to Change – I have always considered it a deep part of my pedagogy to write music for myself and my students in order to address specific technical, musical, and stylistic goals – I can’t wait to do this with students in Seattle and create music just for them – music that I hope they will be excited to keep with them along their musical journey,” said Stewart.

“Curtis is an incredible figure in the classical music and music education space and between his performances and compositions, I am confident that our students will be in for a real treat”, said Dr. Quinton Morris, Executive Director & Founder of Key to Change.