Teaching

Michael teaches double bass at the University of Arkansas and the Suzuki Music School of Arkansas and maintains a private teaching studio at his home in Rogers. . He recently initiated the Ozark MiniBass Project and serves on the board of the Ozark Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. As graduate assistant to Dr. Lucas Drew at University of Miami 1977-1980, Michael taught classroom string pedagogy and studio jazz electric bass as well as classical double bass. He was adjunct professor of electric bass and double bass at Florida International University, Miami, FL, from 1985-1987.

Education

Michael Montgomery received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in double-bass performance from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL, studying classical double-bass with Lucas Drew, principal bass of the Florida Philharmonic, and jazz electric bass with Don Coffman. His doctoral thesis, based on studies for jazz bass, is entitled "Studies In Jazz Style For The Double Bassist: Twelve Original Etudes Derived From Twenty-Two Transcribed Solos" (1984).

Michael previously studied with Robert Rohe, principal bass of the New Orleans Symphony, from 1974-77. A graduate of Biloxi High School, he received his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is a registered Suzuki music teacher and a member of the International Society of Bassists and the Suzuki Association of the Americas.

Professional Playing Before Move to Arkansas

As a double bassist with the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra for 20 years Michael recorded four CDs and played over 3,000 concerts, many of these accompanying artists such as Luciano Pavarotti, Roberta Flack, Isaac Stern, and Ray Charles. He also played briefly with the Ronnie Kole jazz trio in 1977, touring the Eastern United States and Canada, as well as the Mantovani Orchestra.

Professional Playing in Arkansas since 2005

Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, section bassist
Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, section bassist
Ft. Smith Symphony, assistant principal bassist
North Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, principal bassist
Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra, principal bassist
Opera in the Ozarks, principal bassist
KAUF/Fulbright Chamber Festival, bassist

Published Articles

Michael Montgomery, "Can Every Child Really? What Do Other Authorities Have to Say About Suzuki Concepts?" in American Suzuki Journal, volume 40, no. 2, (2012): 30-33.

Michael Montgomery, "Training as a Teacher in Argentina- Ways to Teach Young Bassists- Where to Turn for Ideas" in Bass World, volume 34, no. 3, (2011): 5-8.

Michael Montgomery and Montgomery, Lourdes C., "How We Did It in Sabana Yegua, A Music Mission in the Dominican Republic" in Pastoral Music, volume 27, no. 6, (2003): 10-13. Dominican Republic Article

Michael Montgomery, "What Do You Mean, Someone Wants to Play Bass for My Choir" in Pastoral Music, volume 25, no. 5, (2001): 11-15. Bass Article

(Michael also worked with) Lourdes C. Montgomery, " Singing the Psalms in the New Millennium" in Pastoral Music, (2000): 10-13. Psalms Article

(Michael also worked with) Lourdes C. Montgomery, "Griteria and La Purisima" in Pastoral Music, volume 28, no. 4, (2004): 20-23. Griteria Article

Personal

Born Ft. Worth, TX, Michael grew up in Biloxi, MS, graduated from Biloxi High School and in 2005 left Miami to live in Rogers, Arkansas. At the University of Miami he met his wife, Lourdes a piano and composition major; they now have two grown children, Teresa and Michael.

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