J. Davis Montgomery began composing music when he was 13 years old, when he arranged a hymn for his sister to perform in a church service. He went on to study composition under Dr. David Ledgerwood at Maranatha Baptist University, earning a BA in Music with proficiencies in Arranging/Composition and Trumpet Performance. He currently is in graduate studies under Dr. Michael Schelle and Dr. Frank Felice at Butler University. He has received commissions from Low Key Men's Ensemble, Academy of Excellence, and the MBU Chamber's Singers. As a trumpet player, his instructors have included Daniel Birnschein, Allen Miller, Kevin Eisensmith, and George Vosburgh.

Montgomery sees music as an opportunity to explore human emotion, and his compositions each have specific emotions in mind. His music portrays and evokes a wide variety of emotions, including triumph ("Reflections From a Rooftop"), anxiety ("A Precarious Descent"), humor ("Siblings"), and worship ("I Fear No More").

In addition to exploring emotions, Montgomery sees music as an opportunity to tell stories. He is an avid pursuer of good stories, be it in the form of books, movies, RPG's, plays, or operas. He sees stories as a primary way we learn about both human and divine nature, and he wishes to present both in his art.

As a conductor, Montgomery has gained much experience in his young years, already having taught elementary, middle, and high school choirs, bands, and ensembles as a full-time faculty member at Colonial Christian School in Indianapolis. He says that "music education is not just another class in the curriculum - it develops a young person's intellect, mental and emotional health, performance abilities, and confidence. The opportunity to help young musicians in the same way that I was helped is an absolute privilege." In three years at Colonial, he has taken his groups to 14 IACS FABA competition placements. 6 of those groups have gone on to AACS National Competitions, with one 2nd Place National placement.

J Davis Montgomery