Thank you for visiting my website and learning a little about me and our family! I grew up in American Fork, Utah, and Alyssa grew up in Clearfield, Utah. We both attended Brigham Young University, and we met in 2005 on a BYU band tour to Scandinavia. We married that same year and started our family and careers in our beUTAHful home state. After 10 years, 3 degrees, and 2 children, we moved to Cincinnati in pursuit of additional graduate studies. Upon completion in 2017, we both found our dream jobs in the Midwest. We have fallen in love with the Flint Hills region of Kansas and our wonderful colleagues and school programs. We also cherish our friends and faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where we actively attend and serve.
I married WAY up. Alyssa is an internationally acclaimed oboist, composer, and music educator. She is the Associate Professor of Oboe and Music Theory at Kansas State University and principal oboist of the Topeka Symphony Orchestra and Aglow Trio. She performs and teaches around the globe including recent recitals in Thailand, New Zealand, and Spain, and at prestigious universities and concert halls across the United States. I tag along as often as I can! Professional recordings of her compositions and performances are available on all major music platforms. Learn more about her at alyssamorrismusic.com.
We love hiking, museums, zoos, art, our 3 cats, and the critters that visit our backyard. We have a family goal of traveling to all 50 states. We have 3 left – Alaska, Louisiana, and South Carolina – which we plan to visit before our teenagers graduate from high school. I love Audible and have a personal goal of finishing at least one biography about each President of the United States. Since setting the goal in 2021 I have completed over 70 books on 41 presidents.
Our children were doomed from the womb to become musicians. Both surpassed me in their piano skills years ago. Kimball is a percussionist like me, and Audrey is an oboist like Mom. We try to give our best to our family, church, and schools. We hope to learn something everyday, take any opportunity to go on a road trip, and find and share joy in all we do.
Getting ready for another show! New York City, December 2022
Ice Skating at the Rockefeller Center, New York City, December 2022
Britt’s Farm, Manhattan, Kansas, October 2021
Flint Hills Scenic Overlook near Manhattan, Kansas, July 2021
Kansas City Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, July 2021
Painting buddies, July 2021
Middle School Solo Festival, May 2021 – Kimball earned a 1!
Middle School Solo Festival, May 2021 – Audrey earned a 1!
Jazz Museum, Kansas City, March 2021
Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park, December 2021
Halloween, 2021
Home football game at Junction City High School, September 2021
Family Bike Ride in Manhattan, Kansas, September 2021
Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico, July 2021
Jump Rock in Red River Gorge, Kentucky, June 2021
Mark Twain State Park, Missouri, June 2021
South Padre Island, Texas, June 2021
Lost Dutchman State Park, Arizona, December 2020
The Needles (Black Hills) of South Dakota, July 2020
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, June 2020
Konza Prairie, Manhattan, Kansas. April 2020
Wizard of Oz costumes, October 2019
Disney World, July 2019
Clearwater Beach, Florida. July 2019
Hiking in Midway, Utah, December 2018
Exploring Garden of the Gods in Colorado, November 2018
Hiking the Konza Prairie close to home in Manhattan, Kansas, September 2018
Granada, Spain, August 2018
London, August 2018
Wright Brothers sites in Dayton, Ohio, July 2018
Morning Glory pool in Yellowstone, Wyoming, June 2018
Grand Teton National Park, June 2018
Junction City High School graduation ceremony, May 2018
Two budding musicians posing with their new piano, May 2018
For our 2018 spring break project we made this painting of the temple where we were married in December, 2005
Dolphin Cruise in Florida, December 2017
Kayaking in Florida, December 2017
Nerf gun war! October 2017
Hiking in the Flint Hills of Kansas, August 2017
Wildlife Bird Refuge in Brigham City, Utah, July 2017
More hiking in Kansas! June 2017
Creating our first painting together, March 2017
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, February 2017
Red River Gorge, Kentucky, October 2016
Grand Canyon, Arizona, August 2016
Stewart Falls, Mt. Timpanogos, Utah, July 2016
World of Coca-Cola, Atlanta, GA, June 2016
National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, OH, June 2016
Washington D.C., December 2015
“The Art of the Brick” Lego exhibit, Cincinnati Museum Center, November 2015
Smoky Mountains, Tennessee, October 2015
Mount Rushmore, South Dakota, July 2015
Wasatch Mountains, Utah, July 2015
The Narrows, Zion National Park, June 2015
Kulaniapia Falls, Hawaii, January 2015
New York City, August 2014
Venice, Italy, June 2013
Vienna, Austria, June 2013
Florence, Italy, June 2013
Rome, Italy, June 2013
Cinque Terre, Italy, June 2013
Jared Morris 