About this Event
THE SOCIETY OF COMPOSERS & LYRICISTS INVITES YOU TO
Beyond Genre and Expectation: A Composer's Perspective
A Conversation With
Composer & Chicago Steering Committee Member
JON "DECIIUS" PIERRE
Composer
ROB DIGGY MORRISON
Chicago, IL 60661
Thursday, February 26, 2026
Doors: 7:00 PM CST
Program begins: 7:30 PM CST
Please be mindful of the SCL's Code of Conduct.
From orchestral drama to R&B/Hip-Hop grooves, this seminar brings together two composers who navigate multiple musical worlds that uniquely shape their underscores for television and film.
Through conversation and listening examples, they will discuss their creative process and explore the ability to draw from diverse music genres while meeting the expectations and direction of the directors they are working with.
Jon Pierre, known professionally as Deciius, is an award-winning composer, producer, and professor with over 20 years of experience creating original music for film, television, advertising, and video games. His signature style merges the emotional weight of orchestral scoring with the raw energy of hip hop, R&B, and electronic music—pulling listeners into stories with precision and power.
Based in Chicago, Deciius is the founder of Apex Music and Sound, a music house delivering custom scores and sound design for top-tier clients in the ad, film, TV, and game industries.
Rob "Diggy" Morrison is a Grammy®-recognized composer and arranger, honored by The Recording Academy for his contribution to Beyoncé’s Grammy Award-winning remix of "Crazy in Love."
With an ear for emotion and a gift for storytelling, Morrison has become one of the most respected composers in television and film. As the lead composer for Seasons 4, 5, and 6 of Carl Weber’s The Family Business on BET+, his cinematic soundscapes have defined the series’ intensity and heart. His musical reach extends across Netflix, Tubi, Apple TV, Amazon Prime, NBC, and PBS — where his compositions bring depth, drama, and elegance to every frame.
In 2025, Morrison received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted into the HBCU Hall of Fame at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in the Media and Entertainment category. His influence continues to resonate through covers on Courageous Men Magazine, The Indie Post, HardCore Grind, and E.G.O. Magazine — and through his distinction as one of the Top 10 Men to Watch in 2025.
Known affectionately in the industry as "The Sixth Man of Music," Rob "Diggy" Morrison’s legacy is one of creativity, consistency, and cultural impact — a composer who doesn’t just score scenes, but scores the soul of every story he touches.
Chicago, IL 60661
Limited street parking is available.
CTA access: Green & Pink lines, exit at Clinton Station
Metra access: Union Station
Bus stops are nearby along Randolph, Washington, and Canal.
Event Venue
Chicago Federation of Musician, 656 West Randolph Street, Chicago, United States
