When you hear the word, composer, you might automatically think of someone who lived hundreds of years ago in a place across the Atlantic. But truth is, composer is a title that many people today carry with them. I’m Garrett McQueen, and on this edition of Noteworthy, I like to feature one of the most celebrated composers of today: a woman named Jessie Montgomery.
When you hear the word, composer, you might automatically think of someone who lived hundreds of years ago in a place across the Atlantic. But truth is, composer is a title that many people today carry with them. I’m Garrett McQueen, and on this edition of Noteworthy, I like to feature one of the most celebrated composers of today: a woman named Jessie Montgomery.
She was raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and after being introduced to the violin at an early age, she would go on to earn degrees from the Juilliard School and NYU that would cement her place in the world of classical music. Like many composers, Jessie’s early career centered around musical performance. She would make a name for herself as a violinist with leading chamber ensembles, including the PubliQuartet and the Catalyst Quartet, before stepping out on her own as a musician who writes music.
Among her most performed works these days are pieces titled Starburst, Banner, and this 2017 composition called Coincidence Dances.
Today, Jessie Montgomery continues her work as a leading composer, with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra being one of her most recent collaborators. This woman of color shines a light on what’s possible for music creators today and has proven to be among the most noteworthy of all American composers.
Noteworthy is a production of WDAV Classical Public Radio.
Pictured: Jessie Montgomery by Jiyang Chen.