Dr. Joëlle Morton

Biography

Joëlle Morton is a highly sought performer and teacher, specializing in Renaissance and Baroque violas da gamba and violoni double basses. She is primarily active as a soloist and freelance chamber musician, having directed the Scaramella chamber music series in Toronto from 2005 to 2023, in addition to teaching a large studio of private students in viola da gamba at the University of Toronto. Joëlle is the official Viol Consultant for the Hart House collection of antique viols and has authored numerous scholarly articles on performing editions of music for viola bastarda and lyra viol. She regularly guest teaches a variety of workshops and participates in chamber music projects and symposiums. In 2005, she designed and oversaw the implementation of the Consort Coop, a successful program for young professionals that is a regular part of the annual summer Conclave of the Viola da Gamba Society of America. Joëlle has appeared as a guest soloist and continuo player with renowned period ensembles across North America. Her research interests are extensive, focusing on the full history and repertoire of the viola bastarda, and she has contributed to a Festschrift in honor of Andrew Ashbee in 2024. Having served as Editor for the International Society of Bassists, she established the Online Journal of Bass Research, thereby becoming a valuable resource for those interested in large bowed bass instruments. Joëlle teaches historical basses at the University of Toronto and curates a spectacular collection of antique viols at Hart House.

Research Interests