Kent A. Morgan

Kent A. Morgan, 74, of Oakland Park, Florida, passed away on Saturday November 18, 2017 after a long illness. He will be greatly missed by his wife Carolyn of 48 years, by her family, and by his many loving and caring friends. A memorial service for Kent is being planned for January of 2018.

A graduate from the Manhattan School of Music in New York with a Master of Music in Voice and Opera, Kent was first and foremost a musician - a superb lyric tenor who performed with the famous Gregg Smith singers as a young man and with many other professional ensembles throughout his performing career. In New York he appeared in world premieres of A Dance Mass by John Parkinson, The Glory Coach by Frances Barnard, and Canticles of Praise by Gregg Smith. He went on to become an outstanding Musical Director and Managing Director, first in New York for Calliope: A Renaissance Band.

Kent and Carolyn were persuaded to move to Florida so that he could take up his new position as Assistant Manager of the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra. Subsequently, he became the Music Director of the Church by the Sea in Bal Harbor, and Music Director of the Delray Beach Chorale for twelve years. In 2001, he led members of the Chorale to the Classical Music Festival in Eisenstadt, Austria, where they performed as the official Chorus-in-Residence. Based at the famed Esterhazy Palace, where Franz Josef Haydn spent thirty years of his creative life, the Chorale was at the center of an ensemble of over 90 musicians who performed in Vienna and throughout Burgenland.

Kent was always one who reached out to the community, building collaborations and connections. His interactions were marked by his warm consideration for the needs and welfare of the people with whom he associated. He was genuinely interested in people and treated them all with sensitivity and kindness. Friends describe him as a force that could fill the room with his voice, rapier wit and wide-ranging intellect. It was always a joy to spend time in his company.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Edwin Phillip & Inga Borgstrom Morgan Piano Scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Phillip and Inga Morgan, Kent’s parents and professors of Piano at UNCG, wanted to provide an award that helped students who planned to major in Music with the piano as their principal instrument. Carolyn, a pianist herself, thought additional gifts to this scholarship were a wonderful way to continue the legacy of this extraordinary musical family. Please go to https://advancement.uncg.edu/giving/ and click on “GIVE NOW.” Enter the gift amount and then select “Choose a different designation.” A window will pop up. You will select “Other” and press continue. Check the “This gift is in memory of someone” circle, and then in the “Gift Comments” Box, designate your gift as going to the Edwin Phillip & Inga Borgstrom Morgan Piano Scholarship. You will be prompted to provide your address and payment information.

Thank you for your loving thoughts.

Arrangements under the direction of Kraeer-Fairchild Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.