The Art of Musical Communication: Beyond Technique and Towards Authentic Expression

This conversation with Jessie Montgomery, GRAMMY® Award-winning composer, violinist, and educator, reveals a profound understanding of music not merely as a technical discipline, but as a deeply human art form centered on communication, presence, and the courage to express one's authentic self. The non-obvious implication is that true mastery in music, whether as a performer, composer, or educator, hinges on embracing vulnerability and cultivating a resilient inner landscape, rather than solely focusing on technical perfection. This insight is crucial for emerging artists and seasoned educators alike, offering a framework to navigate performance anxiety, compositional challenges, and the inherent complexities of teaching, ultimately fostering a more meaningful and impactful engagement with music. Those seeking to move beyond the superficial and connect with the core of musical artistry will find immense value in Montgomery's perspective.

The Orchestra of Identity: Navigating the Multifaceted Musician

Jessie Montgomery's journey is a powerful testament to the idea that a musician's identity is not a single note but a rich chord, composed of performance, composition, and education. The conventional wisdom often dictates a singular path, a specialization that can lead to a fragmented understanding of oneself as an artist. Montgomery, however, has masterfully woven these threads together, demonstrating that they are not competing forces but complementary ones. Her experience performing her own compositions, particularly with the Catalyst Quartet, provided a unique advantage: direct feedback and an intimate understanding of how her music resonated in live performance. This symbiotic relationship between composer and performer is a critical system in action.

"I think everything has always been sort of linked together, whether I shared it all the time, whether I was transparent about how busy I was in one realm or the other at any given point. I think it was essential that I didn't sort of share that so that, well, because the first question is, will you have time for me? Will you have time to be in, to write this piece or play in this performance? And me constantly not wanting to feel overly influenced by others' opinions about what I should and shouldn't be doing, I kept a lot of that sort of running in tandem with one another the whole time."

This deliberate choice to keep her multiple artistic pursuits in parallel, rather than feeling pressured to choose one, allowed her to cultivate a holistic musical identity. The consequence of this approach is a deeper wellspring of creative ideas and a more robust artistic presence. For emerging composers, this highlights the significant advantage of not only writing music but also understanding how it is played and received. It suggests that the most impactful creators are those who can inhabit multiple roles within the musical ecosystem. The immediate effort of learning performance or understanding pedagogical challenges pays off in the long term by enriching the compositional voice.

The Performance Paradox: Embracing Vulnerability as Strength

Performance anxiety is a ubiquitous challenge in the musical world, often perceived as a weakness to be overcome or hidden. Montgomery, however, reframes it as a natural, albeit difficult, part of the artistic process, one that can be navigated with intention and self-compassion. Her candid description of experiencing intense fear before a concerto performance, and her reliance on a supportive network of fellow musicians, underscores the social and emotional dimensions of artistic resilience. The conventional approach to performance anxiety often focuses on suppression or eradication, but Montgomery's strategy involves acknowledging the fear, communicating it, and then employing techniques -- like breathwork and self-affirmations -- to manage it in the moment.

"And I guess I'll just say that, you know, it happens to the best of us. Sometimes we feel like if we're experiencing that, it's like you're the only one feeling it because it's so scary. And so sometimes knowing other people feel it doesn't help, but I'm still going to, but it does at least, you know, at least you can project that there is some way through it. You have to find your own way through it."

This approach acknowledges the systemic nature of performance: it's not just about the individual's skill but also their psychological state and their connection to a supportive community. The delayed payoff here is profound: by confronting and working through anxiety, musicians build a deeper trust in their own capabilities and develop a more sustainable relationship with their art. This requires immediate discomfort -- the vulnerability of admitting fear and the effort of practicing coping mechanisms -- but it leads to a lasting advantage: the ability to perform with greater freedom and authenticity. The conventional wisdom of "just push through it" fails because it ignores the internal system that governs performance readiness.

Composing the Community: Grassroots Efforts and Enduring Connections

The path for aspiring composers is often fraught with uncertainty, particularly regarding the viability of their chosen profession. Franklin Hanson's question about pitching to commissioners touches on a critical systemic challenge: how does one break into a field that often requires established relationships and a portfolio of work? Montgomery's response bypasses the idea of a singular "pitch" and instead emphasizes a long-term strategy of community building and grassroots effort. She highlights the importance of institutions like Chamber Music America and New Music USA, but crucially, she stresses the power of direct relationships with performers.

"I always say for composers, your closest way to get your music performed is by befriending performers. I mean, it seems like a simple thing to say, but the reason that I think I've had so much success with my music is because A, I perform my own music, and I had the luxury of being in a touring ensemble that performed, you know, several hundred concerts a year. And so that was an advantage that I had being in a string quartet."

This reveals a key consequence: relying solely on formal commissioning channels can be a slow and indirect route. By fostering genuine connections with musicians who can bring their work to life, composers create their own performance opportunities. This approach requires immediate effort -- attending festivals, collaborating on small projects, and being a supportive colleague -- but it builds a resilient network that pays dividends over time. The conventional advice might focus on perfecting grant applications, but Montgomery points to the more fundamental, yet often overlooked, strategy of cultivating a supportive ecosystem. This is where delayed payoffs are most evident; the composer who invests in relationships now reaps the rewards of consistent performance and collaboration later.

Anthem of Dissent: Music as a Catalyst for Critical Reflection

Montgomery's composition Banner serves as a potent example of how art can engage with complex social and political issues, challenging conventional narratives. Commissioned to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Star-Spangled Banner, she responded not with simple celebration, but with a nuanced exploration of its meaning for different communities, particularly Black Americans. The piece juxtaposes the national anthem with "Lift Every Voice and Sing," creating a dialogue that prompts listeners to question the unifying power of national symbols. This is a clear instance of consequence mapping: the immediate reaction to a celebratory commission was to interrogate its underlying assumptions and potential for exclusion.

"The very, very kind of obvious pairing for me was the Star-Spangled Banner and 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' in relationship to each other within the music. And I guess that's what I mean. And you put them in relationship to each other in a musical context, and it leaves the listener open to say, oh, which of these songs is giving the most weight? You know, where where do I feel this in my body? I'm getting transported into these ideas of, you know, where these songs intersect, and maybe I'm not answering these questions for myself right now, but they're intersecting in this moment, and I'm curious now."

The immediate consequence of this artistic choice is not necessarily comfort, but curiosity and critical engagement. Montgomery understood that a purely celebratory piece would ignore the lived experiences of many. By creating a musical collision of these anthems, she forces a confrontation with conflicting sentiments, opening a space for dialogue and deeper understanding. This is where art can create a lasting advantage: by sparking introspection and challenging the status quo, it can contribute to societal progress. The delayed payoff is a more informed and empathetic audience, capable of engaging with national identity in a more inclusive and honest way. This approach moves beyond the superficial, offering a profound commentary that resonates long after the performance.

Key Action Items:

• Embrace Multifaceted Identity: Actively cultivate and acknowledge all your artistic roles (performer, composer, educator, etc.) without feeling pressured to specialize prematurely. This builds a richer, more resilient artistic identity over time.
• Cultivate Your Network: Prioritize building genuine relationships with fellow musicians, performers, and collaborators. This is your most direct path to getting your music heard and creating performance opportunities. (Immediate Action)
• Reframe Performance Anxiety: Instead of fighting it, acknowledge performance anxiety as a normal part of the process. Develop personal coping mechanisms and lean on your support network. (Immediate Action, builds strength over time)
• Invest in Grassroots Creation: Recognize that early in your career, you will likely need to self-fund or find creative ways to produce recordings and performances of your work. (Immediate Action, pays off in 1-3 years)
• Engage with Social Commentary: Consider how your artistic work can address contemporary issues, even if it means challenging the initial premise of a commission. This creates deeper meaning and lasting impact. (Requires thoughtful effort, pays off in relevance and impact over years)
• Develop Pedagogical Empathy: For educators, actively connect with the emotional and social experiences of your students, not just their technical progress. This fosters a more supportive and effective learning environment. (Immediate Action, long-term student development)
• Seek Diverse Performances: As a composer, consider writing for ensembles with varied instrumentation and skill levels to increase accessibility and performance opportunities. (Strategic planning, pays off in broader reach)