The Q+A: Composer in Residence Jessie Montgomery

Curtis’ current composer in residence discusses her role for the 2025–26 season, and what continues to fuel her cutting-edge work.

Read the full article HERE.
By Brian Wise

Jessie Montgomery, Curtis’ 2025–26 composer in residence, isn’t easily pigeonholed. Her musical interests are eclectic and deeply diverse—from the cosmos in Starburst and nature’s infinite patterns in Rounds, to the chemical reactions in Chemiluminescence, which the New York Philharmonic premiered last April. This April, Curtis New Music Ensemble will present her Concerto Grosso and Musings for two violins, each inspired by earlier historical eras and composers.

Read on to learn more about Montgomery’s upcoming work and creative process—and her take on contemporary music in society today.

From the Fall 2025 issue

Related Articles

Notations: Alumni, Faculty, and Student News

Notations: Alumni, Faculty, and Student News
Read More

Overtones Feature Story: Of Performance and Persuasion

When an artist wants to program something off the beaten path, how do they bring stakeholders along?

Overtones Feature Story: Of Performance and Persuasion
Read More

Sound Off: How Competitions Can Be Improved

Two Curtis faculty members and two recent alumni weigh in.

Sound Off: How Competitions Can Be Improved
Read More
See All News