Graeme Morton

Dr Graeme Morton AM is a Senior Lecturer, Choral Conducting Fellow, and Director of Higher Degrees by Research in the School of Music at the University of Queensland. He holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Master of Music Studies (Coursework), and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Queensland, with his 2020 PhD thesis titled 'The development of excellence in high school choirs: a collective case study of three advanced ensembles'. A prominent choral musician, Morton is the founding and artistic director of the Brisbane Chamber Choir, co-founder and first director of The Australian Voices, and conductor of ensembles including the UQ Chorale, St John's Cathedral Choir, and St Peters Chorale. He has led numerous international tours, such as the St Peters Chorale European Tour in 2007 and Brisbane Chamber Choir tours in 2023, and directed performances at festivals like the Adelaide Chamber Choir Festival and Brisbane Contemporary Church Music Festival. Morton has conducted Australian premieres of works by composers including Morten Lauridsen (Lux Aeterna), Benjamin Britten (The Company of Heaven), and Javier Busto (Requiem), and commissioned Australian choral classics such as Past Life Melodies by Stephen Hopkins and Ngana by Stephen Leek.

Morton's contributions include compositions like Missa Brevis, Missa Corde natus, Missa Converto ad Christum, The Stable Door, and numerous anthems published by Morton Music, as well as arrangements such as Introduction and Toccata on 'The Day Thou Gavest'. His scholarly output features book chapters in A distant music: An anthology of Australian sacred music (2021) and Teaching music through performance in choir (2005), journal articles including 'Singing a new song: liturgical music in the Australian landscape' (International Choral Bulletin, 2012) and 'Commissioning Australian original school musicals' (Music Forum, 2009), and conference papers at ISME World Conference (2012). He supervises PhD candidates in areas like music education, improvisation pedagogy, and composition, and received UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Funding (2012–2013) for research on choral training and expert musician development. Awards include the Order of Australia (AM) for service to the arts, 2011 Lord Mayor's Australia Day Cultural Award, 2003 Prime Minister's Medal, and a Churchill Fellowship. As a media expert, he covers Australian choral music, boys' voices, contemporary choirs, music education, and sacred music.

Professional Email: g.morton@uq.edu.au