Professional Biography

Morgana Ortiz enjoys her career as both a performer and music educator. She completed her undergraduate degree at Arizona State University. During her time there she played in numerous groups including the Jazz Repertory Band, Mariachi del Sol, Sun Devil Marching and Pep Band, ASU Wind Ensemble, and various brass ensembles. In 2012 she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Instrumental Music Education.

Following her undergraduate studies she worked full time in Phoenix as a K-6 music teacher. Morgana taught a wide variety of classes that included general music, chorus, orchestra, hand bells, and guitar. In addition, she founded an after school piano program and piloted the first ever Fine Arts Night to promote extracurricular activities for low-income families. Her hard work was acknowledged in December 2013 when she received the Teacher of the Month Award for service to her school.

After teaching Morgana pursued her master’s degree in Trumpet Performance at the University of Arizona. She graduated in May 2017 under the study of Ryan Darke, Edward Reid and Jason Carder. Morgana played in top groups such as the UA Wind Ensemble, UA Symphony Orchestra, Fred Fox Graduate Brass Quintet, and the Studio Jazz Band. She was also a semifinalist for the 2017 National Trumpet Competition small ensemble division.
 
Morgana attended the Immanuel and Helen Olshan, Texas Music Festival as a fellow during the summers of 2017 and 2018. She was fortunate to work with teachers Mark Hughes, Principal Trumpet of the Houston Symphony, and Tom Siders, Assistant Principal Trumpet of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She has also attended the 2019 Montecito International Music Festival under the guidance of Ryan Darke and Tim Morrison (formerly, Boston Pops).

Currently, Morgana performs in the greater Tucson area and has an actively growing trumpet studio. She is a member of the Sierra Vista Symphony and performs with local groups such as the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Tucson Masterworks Chorale, Tucson Boys Chorus, Tucson Repertory Orchestra, Old Pueblo Brass Band, and Grammy-Nominated True Concord Voices and Orchestra. Morgana has also been invited to play as a guest trumpeter with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, and Arizona Philharmonic (Prescott, AZ).