Matt Morris works with Sisters singers

Matt Morris, who performed with his dad, Gary, at "A Starry Christmas Night" on Saturday, spent part of the day Friday at Sisters High School working with students enrolled in the Americana Project and choir classes at Sisters High School.

"I grew up around music, and I grew up musical," he said. "Being a musical person from a very young age, I was very fortunate to have so many creative people around me to foster that, and some of the kids that were in the classes today had questions about what that world is like."

Gaining early attention in the early 1990s as a member of Disney's "The All New Mickey Mouse Club," along with other famous alums such as Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Ryan Gosling and others, Morris took that experience as well as learning the craft from his father, and set out to be a songwriter.

Morris, who lived with his mom and stepfather in Denver, would often spend his summer vacations with father Gary on the road. He also found himself on stage.

While many of his Disney cohorts found later success as music and acting stars, Morris was looking to get back home to find a little normalcy.

"At 15, all I really wanted to do was hang out, get my learner's permit, and not work," Morris said. "I didn't want to be a celebrity; I wanted to be a kid."

Morris spent the summer between his junior and senior years in high school as a volunteer health activist, working in a remote village in Paraguay, South America. Teaching hygiene and sanitation to the locals later led Morris to work with FightWithTools.org, an organization committed to providing support on many levels to communities in need.

Since that time Morris has found himself collaborating with his former Mouseketeers, co-writing with Aguilera on her album "Stripped," and Kelly Clarkson's hit, "Miss Independent." He also teamed up with Timberlake for the tune "The Only Promise That Remains," a duet performed by Timberlake and Reba McEntire.

All of the songwriting work eventually led to Morris being signed by Timberlake's new record label, Tenman Records, and the release of his first album, "When Everything Breaks," released in 2010. Supporting the album led to appearances on The David Letterman Show, Ellen, and others.

Also in 2010, Morris performed with Timberlake the Leonard Cohen song "Hallelujah" during the Hope For Haiti Now telethon. That performance became the most downloaded track from the album, and one of the most viewed videos on YouTube.

On being in Sisters and rehearsing with the students, Morris commented, "That's been my favorite thing about being here so far. I've found the students to be insightful, inquisitive, creative, and this high school is so rich with culture that it's awe-inspiring."

After his Starry Nights appearance, Morris left for his home in Colorado, where he will join One Republic and members of The Fray to perform at Denver Acoustic Christmas: A Concert for Charity.