New Orleans native Coty Raven Morris is a proud alumnus of Texas State University-San Marcos where she studied with Drs. Lynn Brinckmeyer and Joey Martin. She received her Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University in the Spring of 2020 under Drs. David Rayl, Jonathan Reed, and Sandra Snow.

She is currently the Hinckley Assistant Professor of Choir, Music Education, and Social Justice at Portland State University. Prior to this, she was the Director of Choirs at Crosby High School in the Houston area and has served as the Outreach Choir Director at the MSU Community Music School and Music Director at Grand Ledge United Methodist Church. Her choirs received consistent Sweepstakes & Division I ratings at UIL and choral festivals.

Morris was the recipient of the Hays CISD Linebarger Academic Recognition Award for 2013 & Galena Park ISD’s Dazzling Diamond Award in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018 for outstanding mentorship and leadership in her field. She serves on committees and holds leadership roles within both the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). Her most recent acknowledgments include being a nominee for the Portland State University George C Hoffman Faculty, Semi-Finalist for the 2025 Music Educator Grammy, and Finalist for the 2024 Music Educators Grammy!

A newly published author and composer, Morris is a sought-after clinician and speaker across the country. She has recently served as the Clinician and Headliner for Florida ACDA, Washington MEA, and Minnesota ACDA, as well as the Keynote speaker for the city of Lake Oswego’s Juneteenth festival. Morris has been a choir member of the South Texas Vocal Artists and Mirabai and has devoted over a decade of summers to working as a camp director at the Texas State, Northeastern, Lamar University, Oregon Repertory Singers, and Blue Lake Fine Arts summer camps.

Morris is also a host at All Classical Radio and the International Children’s Arts Network (ICAN), a radio station dedicated to celebrating the joy of childhood, exploring diverse cultures, and enhancing children’s learning by providing access to the arts and fostering a love for music and literature. She  serves as a Chorus Master and Artistic Collaborator with Portland Center Stage, the Oregon Symphony Orchestra, and Choirs of America. Her poetry and compositions have been performed at a multitude of honor choirs and festivals across the country.

Coty Raven Morris is the Founder of Being Human Together, a budding community rooted in music education striving to normalize difficult topics in our field through conversation and connection. BHT seeks to discuss traditionally taboo topics like mental health, systemic oppression, diversity, and inclusivity. And… she is also an avid boxer!