Projects
In addition to composing, I stay connected to performance through several artistic outlets, including a DIY experimental project called TEND, work as a jazz pianist, and as a performer of sacred music.
Excerpt from a TEND performance in May of 2024 at Art Rat Studios in Roanoke, Virginia.
TEND
TEND is an experimental performance project featuring Morgan Harrington on keys and electronics and Ashleigh Hillen on projected visuals. The name TEND reflects the ongoing practice of caring for and nurturing creative expression—particularly in its raw, unfiltered forms. Through this process, the project seeks to reconnect with the body and create a space where audiences can do the same.
TEND primarily performs in DIY spaces, with each set emerging as a singular, site-specific performance that reflects the project’s current spiritual state. Performances draw from free jazz, noise, ambient, and classical traditions, paired with experimental visuals generated through live painting and manipulated in real time using Jitter (Max/MSP).
Morgan Harrington (Jazz Performer)
Engaging with the endlessly deep tradition of improvised jazz is a lifelong learning journey for me. I value the opportunity to connect with both audiences and fellow musicians while playing standards ranging from early Broadway tunes to bebop and contemporary compositions.
Sacred Music
I was grateful to serve as the full-time organist and pianist for the Presbyterian Church of Radford from 2022 to 2024. During this time, I found deep meaning in collaborating with the choir and providing music for worship services, funerals, and weddings. While I am not currently holding a position in a place of worship (as of December 2025), I look forward to reconnecting with this facet of my musical identity in the future.