Jessie Montgomery is Dalton's Latest Composer-in-Residence

Ms. Montgomery has already become acquainted with our string students. In the fall, she coached them in her musical works, and by getting to know our players, she is tailoring the new piece to their strengths.

Ms. Montgomery is a currently active and sought after composer, violinist, educator and clinician, and has recently served residencies and written music for the Catalyst Quartet, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Albany Symphony Orchestra, and Indianapolis Symphony.

Dalton has a long history of commissioning works from notable composers, beginning with Henry Cowell in 1955. In 1994 Stephen Paulus wrote a piece for Dalton's 75th birthday. Since 2013 we have commissioned a new orchestral work annually, beginning with Eric Nathan's "Sky's Edge" (Nathan has since been commissioned by the New York Philharmonic and Boston Symphony Orchestras, and was a winner of the Rome Prize and Guggenheim Fellowship). Other recent Composers-in-Residence include Gregory Spears, Paola Prestini, and alumnus Thomas Reeves, '12.