Presented in collaboration with The University of Iowa String Quartet Residency Program
A celebration of the music of Hancher's 2024–2025 composer-in-residence—featuring the composer herself.
The PUBLIQuartet–of which Jessie Montgomery was a founding member—won the 2013 Concert Artists Guild New Music/New Places Award. In 2019, the ensemble won Chamber Music America's prestigious Visionary Award in recognition of their commitment to excellence and innovation. Embracing improvisation, PUBLIQuartet mixes genres while shining a light on American multiculturalism.
Montgomery, who is Hancher's 2024–2025 composer-in-residence, was Musical America's Composer of the Year in 2023. Her compositions weave classical music together with poetry, improvisation, vernacular music, and a vibrant social consciousness.
“[PUBLIQuartet] is a perfect encapsulation of today's trends in chamber music.” — The Washington Post
“[Montgomery] never fails to enthrall with her rhythmically complex, richly orchestrated, highly original pieces” — WTTW Chicago PBS
Jessie Montgomery: The 2024–2025 Hancher composer-in-residence
The winner of the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition, Jessie Montgomery was the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Mead Composer-In-Residence for three years beginning in July 2021. The Washington Post describes her work as “turbulent, wildly colorful, and exploding with life.”
Throughout Hancher's 2024–2025 season, Montgomery will perform twice at Hancher and will do intensive work with students in the University of Iowa School of Music.
PROGRAM:
ALL-JESSIE MONTGOMERY
Musings for 2 Violins
Rhapsody No. 1 for Solo Violin
Voodoo Dolls
Break Away
Standing/Forward for String Quartet
New improvised work featuring Jessie Montgomery + PUBLIQuartet
(excerpted from https://hancher.uiowa.edu/2024-25/publiquartet)