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                             Biography                              

Gene Montgomery earned Bachelor of Music degrees in applied piano and and music education from Sherwood School of Music in 1967, and a Master of Music degree from Northern Illinois University in 1979. He has served as educator, private teacher, clinician, adjudicator, and instrumental and vocal guest conductor for the past 38 years.

Mr. Montgomery has taught instrumental and vocal performance at the elementary, secondary and college levels. He is currently conductor of the Wind Ensemble, instructor of woodwinds and Music Appreciation at Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby, Illinois, and principal clarinet/stand-in  conductor for the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Montgomery remains active as a performer playing clarinet and saxophone with various concert organizations, leading the Illinois Valley Saxophone Quartet, free-lancing with various dance orchestras, and as a member of the Lyric Winds Woodwind Quartet.

Mr. Montgomery's professional affiliations include the American School Band Directors Association (current State Chair), Phi Beta Mu, the National Band Association, and MENC-IMEA. He has served the Illinois Music Educators Association in many capacities including president of District II and member of the Board of Directors, and as guest conductor of district festivals. In 1992, Mr. Montgomery was chosen for the IMEA  Joseph Bednara Memorial Award as outstanding junior high music educator in Illinois, the Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Bandmaster Award for 2005, and is listed in the 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006 editions of Who's Who Among America's Teachers, and was nominated for the 2007/2008 Who's Who in Collegiate Faculty.