Technical Sergeant Michael Morris is a clarinetist with the USAF Band of Mid-America. Sgt. Morris is originally from Greenville, South Carolina. Before auditioning for the USAF in June 2011, he lived in Chicago for four years teaching privately and freelancing in the Chicago area. A clarinetist primarily, he also plays multiple woodwind instruments including saxophone and flute. Primary clarinet instructors have included Harry "Chip" Hill, R. Douglas Graham, Joseph Eller, Theodore Oien and Steve Cohen. Flute instructors include Constance Lane and Donna Shin. He has performed with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra (SC) and Illinois Symphony Orchestra. He was a member of the Piccolo Spoleto Conservatory Orchestra during the summer (06-09) and has attended the Aspen Music Festival with a full fellowship from the University of South Carolina. In 2009, he attended the Texas Music Festival with a full fellowship and was a finalist in the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Young Artist competition.
For the Air Force Tech. Sgt. Morris has worked as NCOIC and music director of music performance teams, video productions technician, facility manager, duty sergeant, tour manager for small and large ensembles, and as NCOIC of social media. Career highlights include being a featured soloist performing "Black Dog" by Scott McAllister during a tour of Michigan in 2014 as well as being a featured soloist on Artie Shaw's "Clarinet Concerto" during tours of Poland and Ukraine in 2017.
EDUCATION
2007 - BM, Music Performance, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
2009 - MM, Music Performance, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
2016 - Airman Leadership School, Kapaun Air Station, Germany
2017 - Community College of the Air Force, Applied Science - Music
2022 - NCO Academy, McGhee Tyson ANG Base, TN
ASSIGNMENTS
Sep 2011 - Nov 2011: Basic Military Training, Lackland Air Force Base, TX
Dec 2011 - June 2015: USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott Air Force Base, IL
June 2015 - Aug 2020: US Air Forces in Europe Band, Ramstein Air Base, Germany
Aug 2020 - present: USAF Band of Mid-America, Scott Air Force Base, IL
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Basic Training Ribbon
National Defense Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Organization Award, one oak leaf cluster
Good Conduct Medal, one oak leaf cluster
AF Achievement Medal
AF Commendation Medal, two oak leaf clusters
Long Overseas Tour Ribbon, one oak leaf cluster
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2012 - Outstanding Communicator Award - Jr Enlisted, Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
2012 - New Airman Musician of the Year, USAF Band of Mid-America
2013 - Airman of the Year, USAF Band of Mid-America
2013 - Airman of the Year, Air Mobility Command Public Affairs
2017 - Musician of the Second Quarter, USAFE Band
2022 - Public Affairs Awards for Communication Excellence - NCO, USAF Band of Mid-America
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class 27 Sep 2011
Senior Airman 27 Jan 2014
Staff Sergeant 1 Apr 2016
Technical Sergeant 1 Nov 2021