Layla Morris grew up in Hinesburg, Vermont, where she began playing the cello at the age of three. She is currently going into her third year at Oberlin Conservatory as a student of Darrett Adkins. Layla graduated from Champlain Valley Union High School in 2021. During her high school years, she participated in the Vermont All State Music Festival as well as the New England Music Festival, holding the position of principal cellist multiple times in both festival orchestras. She also was awarded numerous scholarship and solo performance opportunities for each festival. Layla has performed as a solo competition winner with both the Vermont Youth Orchestra and the Vermont Philharmonic. During the summers, she has studied at the Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute, Kinhaven Music School, and Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival. Since coming to Oberlin, Layla has participated in orchestra and chamber music at the conservatory level, including a trip to Carnegie Hall with the Oberlin Orchestra in January 2023. In addition to these studies, Layla is very interested in historical performance and is pursuing a minor in baroque cello and viola da gamba as a student of Rebecca Reed.

Layla is the recipient of the Chautauqua Women's Club General Scholarship, the Ted and Deborah First Scholarship, and The Carnahan-Jackson Scholarship Fund.