Airman First Class Stephen Morris is a drum set player and percussionist with the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West, Travis AFB, CA. Originally from Aliso Viejo, California, his Air Force career began in 2022. Current and past teachers include Jonathan Pinson, Rich Thompson, Jeff Hamilton, and Mark Ferber.
A1C Morris is a 2017 and 2020 graduate of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester New York, where he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Jazz Studies: Drum Set. Before joining the United States Air Force, A1C Morris was a 2017 Yamaha Young Artist winner in the drum set category and was featured in a short article in Modern Drummer magazine’s July 2017 issue detailing the accomplishment. A1C Morris was also a member of the 2014 Disneyland All-American College Band, and has performed with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Steve Houghton, Danilo Perez, John Clayton, Tony Levin, Ingrid Jensen, and Wayne Bergeron among others. Having toured and performed throughout the United States and Asia, A1C Morris was also selected to participate in the 2015 Banff Jazz Workshop in Banff, Canada directed by Vijay Iyer where he worked with and studied from Ingrid Jensen, Linda Oh, Imani Uzuri, and Billy Hart.
EDUCATION
2017 Bachelor’s in Jazz Studies: Drum Set, Eastman School of Music
2020 Master’s in Jazz Studies: Drum Set, Eastman School of Music
AWARDS AND DECORATIONS DEVICES
1. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal 0
2. Air and Space Training Ribbon 0
ASSIGNMENTS
June 2022 - USAF Band of the Golden West, Travis Air Force Base, CA
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Airman First Class - June 2022