Since before she was tall enough to reach the keys of her family’s piano, violinist Chelsea Morden has always been drawn to music of many kinds. After stubbornly insisting for months that she was old

enough for music lessons, Chelsea got her way and began to study piano at age 3 ½. She began violin 4 years later after being captivated by the playing of older kids at Suzuki Summer Academy.

 

​Growing up in the small, northern California town of Arcata, Chelsea was exposed to many types of music, from the traditional Irish music her father played at home to local rock, blues, and jazz concerts, music from around the world, and a wide variety of different amalgamations of Classical music. Playing in ensembles such as the Humboldt Symphony, the Little River String Quartet, the Academy Fiddlers, and attending summer festivals such as Boston University Tanglewood Institute allowed her to develop her skills.

Since beginning study at the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music, Chelsea's versatile playing has appeared with a wide range of bands and ensembles. Chelsea currently plays with high energy Celtic Pirate Rock group Potcheen, and has recorded with local Denver groups Reviving Cecilia, Houses, and for the projects such as “Hipster! The Musical” and online multimedia project Tangled We Weave. Chelsea also regularly performs in concert with the Lamont Symphony Orchestra, the Lamont Senegalese Drumming Ensemble, in a traditional fiddle duo with her brother Evan Morden, the Lamont Mbalax (Senegalese Pop) Band, and others. She has also maintained an active string quartet, playing weddings, events, and producing custom arrangements as well as playing concerts throughout Colorado, California, and New Mexico.

 

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Currently, Chelsea teaches and performs in Denver, maintaining a private studio, a studio at My Music Skool in Centennial, and playing with several ensembles and bands. She hopes to further develop her skill at electric violin, and is launching an alternative chamber music ensemble featuring pop and rock music arrangements, experimental sounds, collaboration with DJ's, and original works that defy genre categorization.