Plan Backwards, Sing Forwards

Dr. Morgan Jolley is a conductor, music educator, and scholar whose work spans academic, community, and artistic spaces. She is the Founding Artistic and Executive Director of Vocal Essence of the Southern Tier (VEST), a nonprofit choral organization in Upstate New York dedicated to barrier-free access and lifelong participation in vocal music. She has taught at Queens College (CUNY), Ithaca College, SUNY Potsdam, and the University of South Florida, where she also served as Interim Director of Choral Studies. She has also served as a guest lecturer at the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music in China.

Dr. Jolley opened the choral program at Weeki Wachee High School (FL), where she also directed musicals and led her choirs to Superior ratings and a Carnegie Hall performance. Her additional leadership includes roles with the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, Timbertones, and Nature Coast Children’s Choir. She taught in K-12 schools for 12 years.

Morgan is a sought-after clinician and has presented at ACDA, NYSSMA, ISME, FMEA, PAVA, and Harvard. She  currently  serves as Vocal Jazz Associate Chair for NYSSMA and Conference Co-Chair for NY ACDA. Her research  focuses on vocal health, genre diversity, educational equity, and parenting in music education. She attended the  University of Florida, and holds degrees from the University of South Florida (Ph.D. in Music Education, 2020;  Bachelor of Science in Music Education, 2007) and Florida State University (Masters of Music Education, 2014).

Her teaching philosophy centers on vocal health, inclusion, and musical excellence across genres. She believes music is for all and creates brave, inclusive spaces where singers grow through community and artistry. Her motto—Be the Change—drives her vision of music as a catalyst for social good.