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. 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. He has also taught K-8 music at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School, Miami, FL, 2004-05, and at the Jazz Improvisation String Camp of the University of Arkansas, Ft. Smith, July 2006. Michael also taught classroom beginning guitar in the Dominican Republic (in Spanish) in 2002 for Office for World Missions (contact Frances Cunningham OSF), PO Box 070912, Milwaukee, WI 53207, 414-769-3404, cunninghamf@archmil.org).

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 was based on studies for jazz bass (available from University Microfilms International, 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105). 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 also, as of 2010, a registered Suzuki music teacher, haven taken short term courses in Beaver Creek, CO, Houston, TX, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Michael is 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.

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

Publications

Michael had an article published in the winter 2011 issue of the International Society of Bassists magazine "Bass World" about Suzuki studies in South America. Two articles previously published by the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (962 Wayne Avenue, Suite 210 Silver Spring, MD 20910, 240-247-3000) include an article on playing bass in Catholic liturgy and the experience of teaching music at Dominican Republic mission. Michael also worked with Lourdes on Singing the Psalms in the New Millennium.

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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