Timothy Long Prize Recipients

We are proud to present the following artists who have received this award.

  • Hometown: Muskogee, OK

    Nation: Cherokee

    Studies: Jazz Studies & Commerical Music at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK (Expected Graduation: 2029)

    Jazz pianist, clarinetist, and singer Moriah Nicholson an alumna of Muskogee High School. While there, she was a three-year member of the Advanced Chorale and Jazz Band, four-year member of the Rougher Regiment Front Ensemble and three-year section leader, four-year member of wind ensemble with two years as principal clarinet. Out side of school, Moriah has earn numerous memberships and accolades from around the state including 3-year All State Jazz Pianist, 3-year All-State Choir Member, and 5-year Eastern District Choir Member.

  • Hometown: Muskogee, OK

    Nation: Cherokee

    Class of 2025: Marketing (Major) and Applied Music – Voice (Minor) at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK

    Hayley Hitt grew up with a deep love and appreciation for music. Her operatic studies began when she was 13 years old with Barbara McAlister and continued at Oklahoma State University under the tutelage of April Golliver-Mohiuddin. With OSU Opera, Hayley performed as the Witch in Into the Woods and in scenes as Nicklausse in Les contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffman), First Lady in The Magic Flute, and Lois in Kiss, Me Kate. She is grateful to the Plimpton Foundation and to Timothy Long for the honor of being a recipient of the 2024 Timothy Long Prize, and to her family for supporting her through all of her musical endeavors.

  • Nation: Cherokee

  • Hometown: Muskogee, OK

    Nation: Cherokee

    Studies: University of Tulsa, Music & Psychology

  • Hometown: Fort Gibson, OK

    Nation: Cherokee

    Studies: Northeastern State University (Class of 2026)

  • Hometown: Muskogee, OK

    Nation: Cherokee

    Studies: Mechanical Engineering (Major) and Applied Music – Voice (Minor) at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK (Expected Graduation: 20??)

    Cole Rogers first discovered his love for music through his middle school's choir program. In high school, he went on to join the select choir program. At the beginning of his senior year in high school, his love for singing transformed into a passion of all things musical when he began taking-voice lessons from renowned mezzo soprano Barbara McAlister. His studies continue at Oklahoma State University under the tutelage of Dr. Christian Bester. At OSU, Cole also sings in the concert chorale and with the opera program. He has performed as Frederic in Pirates of Penzance with the Cantabo! Children's Musical Theater in Tulsa and elsewhere. He has also performed scenes from Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) as Tamino and The Student Prince as Von Asterberg. Cole would like to thank his family for supporting him through the beginning of his musical pursuits, and the Plimpton Foundation for recognizing and honoring him as a co-winner of the 2024 Timothy Long Prize.

  • Hometown: Woodall, OK

    Nation: Cherokee

    Studies: Oklahoma City University (BM Voice, 2026)

  • Hometown: Stillwell, OK

    Nation: Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma

    Studies: The Juilliard School (MM Voice, 2025) and Oklahoma City University (BM Music Theater & BM Vocal Performance, 2022)

    Kate Morton, mezzo-soprano, is an in-demand young singer. With The Plimpton Foundation, she has performed at National Sawdust for TOTKV and our 2024 Native American Indigenous Songbook premieres.

    In 2021, Ms. Morton made her professional debut with Opera Montana where she now sings regularly. She has performed as a soloist with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and has been a festival artist with Opera Saratoga, a Schwab Vocal Rising Star at Caramoor, an emerging artist at the Seagle Festival, and guest artist with Alexandria Summer Nights Music Festival and the Castleton Festival.

    Kate Morton is the recipient of Opera Index's 2024 Encouragement Award, the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition Tulsa District Encouragement Award, the Timothy Long Award, as well as a recipient of the Cherokee Nation Trail of Tears Award for Excellence.

    Ms. Morton is a graduate of The Juilliard School in New York City under the tutelage of Mr. Kevin Short and of Oklahoma City University where she studied with Dr. William Nield Christensen, Jan McDaniel, and Joseph Fitzgerald.

  • Hometown: Muskogee, OK

    Nation: Cherokee Nation

    Studies: University of Tulsa (2024)

  • Hometown: Tahlequah, OK

    Nation: Cherokee Nation

    Studies: Northeastern State University

  • Nation: Cherokee Nation

  • Nation: Cherokee Nation

“Musicians are some of the most driven, courageous people on the face of the earth. They deal with more day-to-day rejection in one year than most people do in a lifetime. Every day, they face the financial challenge of living a freelance lifestyle, the disrespect of people who think they should get real jobs, and their own fear that they’ll never work again. Every day, they have to ignore the possibility that the vision they have dedicated their lives to is a pipe dream. With every note, they stretch themselves, emotionally and physically, risking criticism and judgment. With every passing year, many of them watch as other people their age achieve the predictable milestones of normal life – the car, the family, the house, the nest egg. Why? Because musicians are willing to give their entire lives to a moment – to that melody, that lyric, that chord, or that interpretation that will stir the audience’s soul. Musicians are beings who have tasted life’s nectar in that crystal moment when they poured out their creative spirit and touched another’s heart. In that instant, they were as close to magic, God, and perfection as anyone could ever be. And in their own hearts, they know that to dedicate oneself to that moment is worth a thousand lifetimes.”
― David Ackert