Joe Montelione
Performs nationwide as a trumpet soloist for “Concert with Words”, a concert experience that blends instrumental music and spoken word. As a commercial artist he has worked with Billy Joel, Tony Bennett, Charlie Daniels, Amy Grant, Don Menza, Bob Mintzer, Ruben Studdard, Mandisa, Kim Choo-ja, Julie Andrews, Nathan Lane, Lou Diamond Phillips, Ian Fraser, Ed Strauss, Laura Bell Bundy, Lea Michelle, Bart Shatto, Steve Tewksbury, Eden Espinosa, The Little River Band and many others. He is the music director for "Bartley in Concert" a jazz concert experience featuring singer Adam Bartley (star of the television show Longmire). Montelione can be heard on major-motion picture soundtracks to “Post Grad”, “Live Evil”, “Unearthed” ,"U-Street Sounds", and the video game “Metropolis.”
Montelione was recently appointed second trumpet of the Venice Symphony in Venice, Florida. He has performed with the Florida Orchestra, Opera Tampa, Orlando Philharmonic, Jacksonville Symphony, Coastal Symphony of Georgia, Ocala Symphony, Opera Memphis, Memphis Symphony, Alabama Symphony, Moscow State Radio Symphony, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra, Erie Symphony, Washington Symphony Orchestra, Jackson Symphony, the Irish Tenors, Cirque Musica Orchestra and the Carnegie Hall performance of the United Nations Orchestra.
As a theatre musician, he has been seen in the Broadway pits for the shows “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum” starring Nathan Lane, “Victor/Victoria” starring Julie Andrews, “The King and I” starring Lou Diamond Phillips and “Big: The Musical” a musical adaptation of the 1988 Tom Hanks film. He spent many summers as music director of the CRT Orchestra, a high-energy show band that is in residence at the Creede Repertory Theatre. He is a 2016 Henry Award Nominee for Best Music Director and Best Musical for his work with Guys and Dolls. His arrangements and orchestrations can be heard on Broadway Star Steve Tewksbury’s Album “The Luckiest”, with Adam Bartley (current star of the television show “Longmire”) and for the musical "The Presidents" and a new orchestration for Franks Loesser's "Guys and Dolls."
As a composer he wrote the music for the national touring musicals "Viva Agua" (Book by John DiAntonio) and "Mathstronaut" (Book by John DiAntonio) and the comedy "Pants on Fire" (Book by Jessica Jackson). He also composed the music for the plays Harry the Great (book by John DiAntonio) and Tamin of the Shrew (Book by Nagle Jackson), as well as a jingle for a TCBY commercial.
Equally skilled on the podium, Dr. Montelione was a semi-finalist and only American conductor in the Concours International pour Jeunes Chefs d’orchestres in Chenove, France and has conducted a number of groups including the Memphis Chamber Players, New Ballet Ensemble, West Point Military Academy Band, Falls Church Orchestra, UF Trumpet Ensemble, University of Southern California Chamber Winds, USC Brass Choir, USC Trumpet Ensemble, Rhodes College Orchestra, Florida Tech University Wind Ensemble, Jacksonville Civic Orchestra and the Capistrano Performing Arts Center Orchestra.
Montelione is a teaching artist providing masterclasses and performances throughout the United States. He has performed all over the world as a chamber musician and soloist, with recent solo engagements throughout China. He has been on the faculty of the University of Florida as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Trumpet and a member of the artist faculty for the National Trumpet Competition since 2007. Before arriving at the University of Florida, Montelione served as a teaching-artist for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, a performing artist-educator for Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and the New England Music Camp and as the Director of Instrumental Performance at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. He is currently on faculty at Florida Tech University where he teaches trumpet and directs the concert and jazz ensembles.
He is owner of MonteMusic Services LLC, a company specializing in music supervision, musician contracting, music direction, and performance, as well as composition, orchestration and arranging services. His formal education began at the Manhattan School of Music, continued at SUNY Fredonia, George Mason University and the University of Southern California. Previous trumpet teachers have included: Carl Sakofsky, Robert Sullivan, William Vacchiano, Dennis Edelbrock and Boyde Hood. Previous jazz teachers have included: Earl Carter, Dave Arnay, Jim Carroll and every album he ever heard.
"a world-class musician whose extraordinary talent has contributed significantly to the reputation of CRT and its many rave reviews from regional and national press."
Jessica Jackson
Artistic Director
Creede Repertory Theatre
"the highest level of conductors with whom I have worked. His ear for musical nuance is very refined and knows how to get the very best from his musicians. A performance of Stravinsky’s Soldiers Tale was among the finest ensemble performances of which I’ve ever been a part. "
Scott Moore
Principal Trumpet
Memphis Symphony Orchestra
"An accomplished trumpet player, as well as a distinguished and talented conductor. An inspiring academic figure who instills in his players the highest level of musical and artistic integrity."
Iren Zombor
Cellist, Memphis Symphony
Cello Professor, Rhodes College