Dr. David Montgomery

Conductor and pianist. “Has a Beethoven overture ever sounded so exciting in Jena? Not that one can remember.

The Leonore Overture

No. 3 was presented as if chiseled in granite, with a seldom-heard clarity, thanks to David Montgomery’s sharply clean baton technique and an orchestra that simply outdid itself. Concertgoers were introduced to a guest conductor who appeared as if he had led his musicians into battle a hundred times and left the field triumphant.

David

Montgomery does not work with large gestures; where others of his profession practice shadowboxing, he leads his players with truly specific, rational and energy-saving movements. Mostly he communicates with hands and fingertips, and any orchestra should feel confidence in his expressive metrical exactitude.” Ostthüringer Zeitung, Jena, Germany

Founder and Artistic Director at Ross Arts Concerts; Sonoma Strings Soloists (2017 – 2025)

Featuring and supporting rising young classical musicians. Research and completion of a second book concerning Franz Schubert: Unfinished History (Brown Walker Press) and recently a third specialty book: A History of Acceleration in Classical Music. Continuing performance and private teaching.

Conductor, choirmaster, pianist, educator at Contract engagements (2004 – 2016)

Adjunct Faculty at Marymount University (2012 – 2015)

Guest Lecturer at Harvard University Music Department (2006 – 2006)

Seminar on Franz Schubert.

Guest Faculty for Wind Ensembles and Jazz Seminar at Georgetown University (2004 – 2005)

Music Director at Prince William Symphony (PWSO), Opera-in-Concert, and Prince William Baroque (2006 – 2015)

The PWSO was founded in the 1970s, as the County Symphony and later as the house orchestra for the Manassas Ballet.

Prince William

Baroque (PWB) was founded in 2004 as a choral and instrumental ensemble. PWB presented first at the Manassas Museum and eventually through all of Prince William County, including the library systems. In 2007, PWB merged with the Prince William Symphony [Incorporated VA, 1975]. In the aftermath of the 2009 national financial crisis, the PWSO mounted smaller-scale concerts in Virginia and Washington DC, keeping its identity until 2015.

Music Director at Concordia DC (2010 – 2014)

Including the Concordia Chorale, Männerchor, and Sinfonia. Concordia was a special public arts series offered in conjunction with the German Embassy of Washington during the period in which the Embassy was rebuilding its own concert hall. Events took place at the historic German Concordia Church in the Foggy Bottom (now The United Church) at 1920 G Street.

In the years 2010–2014, Concordia DC presented ca. forty events by rising young professional musicians from the U.S. and Germany. The Embassy concerts now are re-established at their own newly-finished building. Please see attached letter from the German Embassy.

Editor for research and translation at Franz Schubert durch die Brille, Journal of the International Franz Schubert Institute (IFSI) (2000 – 2004)

Publ. Vienna, Austria.

Director at American Schubert Project (2000 – 2004)

Financed by four independent grants and by IFSI. Principal publication: Franz Schubert’s Music in Performance: Compositional Ideals, Notational Intent, Historical Realities, Pedagogical Foundations (Hillsdale: Pendragon Press, 2003). The recording side of the project was designed to produce a digital repertoire of examples based on academic research in historical performance practices and ideals, in conjunction with IFSI.

Faculty at The Branson School (2000 – 2004)

Historical performance Advisor, Managing Editor at Sony Classical GmbH / Sony Inc. (1994 – 2000)

Residence in Germany 1994–2000. Research author for Klavier Records International / Deutsche Grammophon, and others.

The Sony

Corporation sent me to Europe in 1994 as a managing editor and historical advisor for Sony Classical GmbH, Hamburg. Supervision of ca. 30 researchers, authors, translators and proofing editors for CD booklet production in five languages; project management; oversight for all English documents in print for the European branch. Sony closed the Hamburg office at the end of 1996.

Principal Guest Conductor at Jena Philharmonic Orchestra (1995 – 2000)

Seven CDs with that orchestra for BMG’s Arte Nova label in Munich. Special activities included co-development of the Jena Philharmonic’s “Entartete Musik” project for repatriating music banned by Nazi and Stasi regimes.

Film Conducting Debut at Columbia Pictures (1993 – 1993)

The Age of Innocence, scene from Gounod’s Faust, Sony TriStar Orchestra and Soloists.

Artistic Director at Opera Excelsior for Children (1993 – 1993)

This non-profit organization presented one-hour reductions for children in the schools, as well as two onstage productions per season.

Summer Music Faculty; Director of Baroque Ensemble; Ensemble Coach for piano chamber music at The Waterloo Festival (1989 – 1993)

Students were drawn from the Juilliard School and the Manhattan School of Music, New York City.

Ph.D in Performance Practices and Special Topics in 18th, 19th and 20th Century European Music, World Music – University of California at Los Angeles

MM in Special Studies: Rudolf Kolisch, Paul Badura-Skoda, René Leibowitz – University of Wisconsin, Madison

BM in Joseph Schwartz – Oberlin Conservatory of Music

Special Studies – Berlin Hochschule für Musik und Darstellung

Pierre Boulez Scholar – University of California at Los Angeles (1984 – 1984)

Teaching Fellowship in music theory, musicianship, and opera workshop – University of California at Los Angeles (1983 – 1985)