The Author
Alan Montgomery is an Indiana native. He attended Union County High School, which is where he began his earliest writing. Musical studies were prominent during his early years. When he went to Indiana University, his intention was to study music composition. He eventually changed to music education. His graduate degrees were both in instrumental conducting.
Dr. Montgomery spent 1974-75 in Hamburg, Germany, where he coached opera at the Hamburg State Opera. When he returned to Indiana, he sang lead tenor roles in La Boheme, Cosi fan Tutte, Daughter of the Regiment, and Rigoletto with the Whitewater Opera. During his time with that company, he also began musical direction of musicals at Nettle Creek Players, Hagerstown, Indiana, eventually music directing over 40 musicals. His musicals Robin Hood! and A Dog’s Life were presented there in 1985 and 1989.
In 1979, Dr. Montgomery moved to Oberlin, Ohio, where he was the assistant music director of the Oberlin Opera Theater. His early career in singing aided him immensely in his coaching. In Oberlin, he conducted The Tenderland by Copland, La Cambiale di Matrimonio by Rossini, The Medium by Menotti, and The Turn of the Screw by Britten. Although he retired in 2011, he still coaches singers occasionally.
Alan Montgomery has written many novels and short stories, most of them unpublished to date. In addition to The Further Adventures of Gentleman Jack and Mr. Twist, the Artful Dodger and Oliver Twist, Montgomery has another novel: Walking in the Rain, and a book of short stories: Fifteen Tales for Christmastide. He also has a book, Opera Coaching, in which he offers guidelines for pianists who are potential opera coaches. It is also considered a valuable read for singers, too. It is published by Routledge Press, under the umbrella of Taylor and Francis.
Publications
The Further Adventures of Gentleman Jack and Mister Twist
Fifteen Tales for Christmastide
Christmastime brings out the best and the worst in everyone. These tales are written to lighten and enlighten the beautiful joys of Christmas.
Some are semireligious while others are more fanciful. All are a joyful affirmation of the spirit felt at that time of the year.
The Further Adventures of Gentleman Jack and Mister Twist:
Fifteen Tales for Christmastide
Stay Tuned!
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