Jessie Montgomery Commission to be Premiered at PASIC 2023

PAS is thrilled to announce a new commission by acclaimed composer and violinist Jessie Montgomery.

Indianapolis, Ind. – The Percussive Arts Society (PAS) is thrilled to announce a new commission by acclaimed composer and violinist Jessie Montgomery, which will be given its world premiere at the 2023 Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC). The commission, a percussion quartet, is Montgomery’s first chamber work for percussion and will be first performed by the PASIC Collegiate All-Star Group under the direction of She-E Wu.  

Montgomery’s music has been described as “turbulent, wildly colorful, and exploding with life,” and her work interweaves classical music with elements of vernacular music, improvisation, poetry, and social consciousness. She is currently Musical America’s 2023 Composer of the Year and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Mead Composer-in-Residence, and has been recognized with many prestigious awards and fellowships, including the Civitella Ranieri Fellowship, the Sphinx Medal of Excellence, and the Leonard Bernstein Award from the ASCAP Foundation.

“We are thrilled to commission a new work from Jessie Montgomery for PASIC 2023,” said Joshua Simonds, PAS Executive Director. “Ever since we started engaging with her in early 2019, her unique blend of influences and writing style has consistently impressed us, making her the perfect match for creating an exciting new work for percussion quartet. I cannot wait to hear it in November and let the rest of our percussion community have access to program this new work on their own.”

The commission is part of Montgomery’s growing body of work, which includes solo, chamber, vocal, and orchestral works, as well as collaborations with distinguished choreographers and dance companies. Recent highlights include Hymn for Everyone (2021), her first commission as Mead Composer-in-Residence with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Five Freedom Songs, a song cycle conceived with and written for Soprano Julia Bullock.

“I am honored to be commissioned by the Percussive Arts Society,” said Montgomery. “I’ve been dreaming about writing a piece for percussion quartet for some time and am thrilled to collaborate with PAS to make this a reality. It is a joy to be able to create new work for percussionists and, as an educator, having my work premiered by the Collegiate All-Star ensemble is especially meaningful to me. Furthermore, I am excited to contribute to and support PAS in their mission ‘To inspire, educate, and support percussionists and drummers throughout the world.”

The Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) is the largest percussion event in the world, featuring performances, workshops, masterclasses, and exhibitions. PASIC 2023 will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana, from November 8-11, 2023.