Musician Rose Morrison recently hit a major milestone, having completed Sable Island’s first artist-in-residence program. The remote island, located almost 300 km off the coast of the province of Nova Scotia on Canada’s eastern coast, has limited human access (aside from researchers and Parks Canada staff). Morrison says the residency, which took place over two weeks in October 2025, “deepened my environmental focus and revealed how sound, landscape, and story inform one another.”

In the coming year, the artist hopes to – among other things – continue what she started during her time on Sable Island. “I will be working on new music connected to that residency, including field recordings and compositions that reflect the landscape and my experience there.”

Morrison hails from the small town of (the ironically named) Big Baddeck on Cape Breton Island. As Cape Breton is a hub of Celtic culture in Canada, it’s no surprise that Morrison found her way to the fiddle. She was initially inspired by one of the region’s most famous fiddlers, Natalie MacMaster, after seeing her perform on television, She was instantly enthralled and emotionally connected to the sound of the instrument and began taking lessons at the age of seven.

“Over time my practice has widened into an interdisciplinary one, working across music, painting, and field recording, with much of my creative direction now shaped by my relationship with the natural world.”

Morrison has come a long way since taking the stage at her First Grade Christmas concert. Early on in her career she toured internationally both with Celtic musical group The Cottars and as a solo artist. She also fell in love with traditional step-dancing, and honed both disciplines at Cape Breton’s Colaisde na Gàidhlig (The Gaelic College) under teachers such as Jerry Holland, Buddy MacMaster, Stan Chapman, and Sandy MacIntyre.

“My roots remain firmly in the Cape Breton tradition, but I’m also exploring land connection, ecology, and new ways of playing that stay true to where I come from…”

Her 2024 album, The River She Knows, was inspired by the river near her home. Even her fiddle was made in Cape Breton: luthier Clay Carmichael crafted the instrument with wood from Big Baddeck. Morrison has had that fiddle – a gift from her grandmother – since she was 11, and she says it will be her “lifelong instrument.”

Although she has sometimes gone through lengthy periods without performing, the fiddle has remained a constant part of her life. First and foremost, it is a source of joy. “At first it was just the excitement of the sound and learning tunes. I remember playing in my room for hours. Now it’s also the feeling of connection, creativity, and expression that comes with it. I love playing the fiddle as accompaniment to other songwriters and musicians just as much as I love playing traditional tunes. Playing has become a part of who I am.”

These days, collaboration and community are deeply important to her musical life. “The people I make music with, and their families, often become some of my closest friends, and there is a special joy in supporting one another’s work,” she notes.

Morrison uplifts fellow musicians through the Little Church in Big Baddeck concert series – an ongoing venture since 2022. As artistic director of the concert series, she invites a variety of artists to perform at the Vicar’s View Venue (a former United Church that has been revitalized). “It has been a gift to help create a space of inclusion and diversity, welcoming exceptional artists who bring a tapestry of cultures and experiences to our intimate venue.” The 2025 lineup included Newfoundlander folk trio The Once, singer-songwriter Lennie Gallant and Cape Breton duo Madison Violet. “I’ve been inspired by every show and by the way our community has supported and embraced it.”

Morrison plans to keep working with other artists throughout 2026, including performances with Irish musician Breanndán Begley. Additionally, she says she hopes to “continue weaving together my playing, songwriting, and visual art in a way that feels helpful in inspiring connection to each other and to land stewardship.”

As ever, the goal is to connect with people through song.

“When we embody the joy and connection within the music, others can feel it, and that is what inspires them.”

www.rosemorrison.com
@rosemorrisonmusic