Jessie Montgomery

Montgomery's music is rooted in string writing of extraordinary idiomatic brilliance — she's a violinist, and it shows. Her rhythmic language draws on jazz, funk, and African American vernacular traditions, creating grooves that feel both composed and improvised. Her harmonic palette blends tonal warmth with contemporary color, and her textures shimmer with energy. Her music breathes — it has a natural, singing quality that never feels forced or academic.

Grew up on Manhattan's Lower East Side immersed in diverse musical traditions. Studied violin and composition at Juilliard and NYU. Her music reflects the influence of jazz, spirituals, and the African American musical tradition alongside contemporary classical practice. As a longtime member of the Catalyst Quartet, her chamber music instincts are deeply informed by performance. She cites Bartók, Dvořák, and Coltrane among her inspirations.

Her early works established her voice in chamber music, particularly for strings. Banner, written for the Sphinx Organization, and Starburst brought her to wider attention. Her appointment as composer-in-residence at the Chicago Symphony (2021) marked her arrival at the highest level of American orchestral life. Recent works have grown in scale and ambition while retaining her characteristic warmth and rhythmic vitality.

Montgomery's Starburst — a fizzing, three-minute string orchestra piece — has become one of the most performed new American orchestral works, appearing on programs everywhere from community orchestras to the Berlin Philharmonic. Its creation was almost casual — a short commission she wrote quickly — but it struck a nerve with audiences and musicians alike, proving that sometimes the simplest gestures make the biggest impact.

Montgomery is also a dedicated educator who spent years teaching at the Third Street Music School Settlement on the Lower East Side — one of the oldest community music schools in the country. Her commitment to music education and community access runs as deep as her compositional career.

Montgomery is one of the most frequently programmed living American composers — Starburst appears on programs constantly, and her larger works are becoming regular features. Her music is a programming dream: audiences love it, musicians love playing it, and it works in contexts from education concerts to subscription series. Her CSO residency ensures a steady stream of important new works. She's a genuine phenomenon in contemporary American music.