Jessie Montgomery. Photo by Todd Rosenberg.
In Sunday’s (5/2) Chicago Defender, Nicole Jeanine Johnson writes, “Jessie Montgomery was surprised to hear her name called during the 2024 Grammys for the Best Contemporary Classical Composition category…. Montgomery’s first Grammy win is the culmination of her three years as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mead Composer-in-Residence. Zell Music Director Riccardo Muti appointed her in April 2021 and officially began her tenure in July of that year. Now, that three-year appointment draws to a close with two spring CSO programs featuring premieres of her music. Marking the third and final orchestral commission of her tenure, Procession (2024), a concerto for CSO Principal Percussion Cynthia Yeh, received its world premiere performances from Yeh and the orchestra under Manfred Honeck’s leadership. In two weeks, violinist Joshua Bell will join the CSO for the Chicago premiere of Montgomery’s “Space” as part of The Elements … As Composer-in-Residence, Montgomery is the second Black woman to have her work performed in Symphony Hall. The first was Florence Price in 1933. Consequently, Montgomery sees her appointment and Grammy award, both selected by her peers, as a commitment to continue ‘…to create visibility, to create more opportunities, more equality, more acknowledgment for Black people, women, in the arts.’ ”
