Making music with Doug Montgomery

Pianist Doug Montgomery will be performing on the Steinway concert grand at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center on Saturday, June 4. The world-class entertainment on a world-class instrument will benefit the Steinway Fund. Joining him on stage will be vocal guests and a violinist. Montgomery performs everything from classical favorites to movie themes, musical theater hits and more.

Montgomery has performed as a soloist with symphonies and orchestras worldwide as well as public, private and corporate engagements for royalty, presidents and noted celebrities. He’s a classical pianist who can transform any musical style to classic status with his arrangements and passionate delivery. Like Peter Nero, Montgomery uses his training, vast ability and versatility to creatively express his love of music.

Montgomery attracted national attention as a top-prize winner in the prestigious Robert Casadesus Piano Competition in 1977. Initially pursuing a career in classical music, he was also working as a male model in Manhattan when he discovered the concept of the piano bar. He realized this was something he could do as well or better than anyone else. So he expanded his repertoire, and put his training to work learning show tunes, popular music and jazz. Later, he moved to Santa Fe and created the now-famous Vanessie’s Piano Bar, where he has been performing for more than 30 years while also appearing at private events, concerts and as a featured performer on Crystal Cruises.

Montgomery’s magic covers a variety of styles and genres, performing a range of repertoire including Rachmaninoff, Chopin, Debussy, Gershwin, Cole Porter, John Williams, Leonard Bernstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Morricone marvelous movie themes and more.

“Doug Montgomery is the kind of artist that I admire the most,” according to Frédéric Chaslin, former Chief Conductor of the Santa Fe Opera. “He is not only an accomplished pianist with a brilliant technique, he creates every evening a new world of music, combining a talent of improviser, arranger in the best tradition of the 19th-century greatest pianists like Franz Liszt, applying those skills to the largest repertoire you can imagine.

“He is a real genius whom I learn from every time I hear him perform.”

Montgomery is also an accomplished accompanist for singers such as Susan Graham and Emmy Rossum. At this concert, he will be joined by singers Mike Eldred and Cynthia Dario.

Eldred now makes his home in New York City, but he’s still a local favorite having lived in Whitefish. Eldred starred on Broadway in “Les Miserables” as Jean Valjean, and appeared in the original cast of the Tony-nominated “The Civil War.” He also performed in the 25th-anniversary tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar.” His role as Tony in the Nashville Symphony’s production of “West Side Story” has earned international praise as “arguably the best ‘Tony’ on record.” This September, Eldred will sing John Denver hits in “The Very Best of John Denver” with the Glacier Symphony Pops.

Eldred has won numerous performance awards, and has shared the stage with Stevie Wonder, Garth Brooks, Amy Grant, Michael Bolton and Larry Gatlin.

Special guest opera singer Dario will enchant us with the beauty and clarity of her voice. Among Dario’s credits are performances with the Mayo Civic Orchestra, Seattle Opera and Emerald City Philharmonic. Dario now makes her home in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Also joining Montgomery will be violinist Elizabeth Young. Young has appeared at Carnegie Hall, as well as on BBC, CBS and CNN, and has performed with orchestras throughout the world, including the Arcos Orchestra and the Miami Symphony. She’s performed as part of Distinguished Concerts International NYC and is Concert Master of the New York Opera Society Orchestra. Young currently resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she is a member of the New Mexico Philharmonic.

“An Evening With Doug Montgomery and Friends” performance will be Saturday, June 4, at 8 p.m. at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center.

Tickets are available in tiers, ranging from $26 to $36, and are available at www.SingerandSimpson.com or www.Tix.com. Tickets are also available by phone at 406-730-2817.

This concert is sponsored by Don “K” Subaru and put on by Singer and Simpson Productions. Sponsors include Don “K” Subaru and Subaru of America, Joel Pemberton of Edward Jones in Whitefish and The Daily Inter Lake.

For more information, call 406-730-2817 or visit www.SingerandSimpson.com.

Miriam Singer is co-owner of Singer and Simpson Productions. She can be reached at info@singerandsimpson.com.