The School of Music welcomes composer, conductor and pianist Stephen Montague for a "fireside chat" with Michael Ibrahim, director of the School. Montague was Ohio State's first DMA graduate in composition (1972). He has been honored with the Outstanding Alumnus Award from The Ohio State University School of Music. The UK quarterly magazine, Musical Opinion, reviewed Montague's 80th birthday concert in 2023.
On September 22, the Ohio State Symphony Orchestra will feature Montague's Disparate Dances: flute, harp and chamber orchestra (2002) under the baton of Miriam Burns, conductor. Disparate Dances was commissioned for the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra by orchestra members Katherine Borst Jones and Jeanne Norton, in memory of James B. Jones and John Norton. It premiered on January 11, 2003 at the Southern Theatre, Columbus, with soloists Katherine Borst Jones, flute and Jeanne Norton, harp; Timothy Russell, music director. Jones, Norton, Russell and Montague all are alumni of the Ohio State School of Music.
Both events are free and open to all. No ticket required.
Stephen Montague is an Anglo/American composer born (1943, Syracuse, NY) and educated in the USA (Florida State University, The Ohio State University). Since 1972 he has been living in Europe, first as a Fulbright Scholar in Warsaw (1972–74), then from 1974 in London where he works as a freelance composer, pianist and conductor. His works have been performed worldwide by leading ensembles and soloists including the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Orchestra, The National Symphony Orchestra (Washington, DC), Südwestfunk Symphony (Baden-Baden), RTE Orchestra Madrid. Solo performers include pianists Stephen Kovacevich, Marc-André Hamelin, Joanna MacGregor, baritone Benjamin Luxon, and percussionist Evelyn Glennie.
Recent commissions include the BBC Proms, Birmingham Royal Ballet, UK New Music Biennale, Calgary Philharmonic (Canada), Royal Festival Hall, the Southbank and Barbican Centres, London.
In addition to writing for conventional ensembles, Montague has done a number of large-scale theatrical events with sometimes hundreds of performers such as directing the Cage Centennial Musicircus at English National Opera, London Coliseum and unusual works such as his Horn Concerto for klaxon horn soloist and an orchestra of automobiles, and a piano concerto with symphonic brass, percussion and 8 motorcycles for the UK World Superbike Championships Brands Hatch. The piano soloist was twice World Superbike Champion, James Toesland.
As a conductor Montague specializes in contemporary music, and recently conducted the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Royal Navy Band and Chorus in a performance of his Dark Sun – August, 1945 in a RAF bomber hanger.
Composer Portrait concerts of Montague’s work have taken place in London, Cambridge, Aberdeen, Vienna, Budapest, Warsaw, Houston, Hartford, and Chicago. Southern Lament, an NMC recording of Montague's piano and chamber works, won the International Piano Award for Best New Piano Music Recording 2006. His works are published by United Music Publishing. Visit stephenmontague.com.
All events are subject to change.
Getting Here
Two garage options:
Arps Garage (open to visitors M–F after 4 p.m. and on weekends) — located just north of the Timashev Music building.
- A good choice for events in the Timashev Recital Hall, just inside the north end of the building.
Ohio Union South Garage (open to visitors 24/7) — located just south of the Timashev Music building, next to the Ohio Union.
- A good choice for events in Weigel Auditorium, just inside the south end of the building, across from the Oval.
- The only choice for visitors M–F, before 4 p.m.
Weigel Auditorium is on the second floor, via a staircase in the south lobby.
- The elevator to Weigel Auditorium is in the back hallway, located behind the Music Commons.
