Jacob Montgomery, a native of Raleigh, NC, is a doctoral candidate in the studio of David Higgs at the Eastman School of Music. He graduated from the studio of David Higgs with his Master of Music in Organ Performance in Literature in 2020 after receiving degrees in both chemistry and music performance from East Carolina University in 2018. Jacob received recognition as both a chemist and musician, receiving the Franklin Ritter Award for Young Chemists, The Thomas Jones Scholarship for Chemists, the Olive G. Long Memorial Scholarship for Pianists, the Clay J.H. Organ Scholar Endowed Fund, and East Carolina’s Outstanding Senior award. In 2014, he was awarded his Colleague certification from the American Guild of Organists (AGO). The previous organ scholar at Duke Chapel in Durham, NC, Montgomery worked vigorously at this epicenter of musical output, which held weekly Vespers, Evensong, and communion services. Jacob now serves as Director of Music and Organist at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Rochester, NY. 

Recently awarded first prize in the 19th Annual International Organ Competition of West Chester, PA, Jacob maintains an active performance calendar, appearing in recital across  North Carolina, Virginia, and New York. During his undergraduate degrees, Jacob studied under Andrew Scanlon, FAGO, Christopher Jacobson, FRCO, Dr. John O’Brien (harpsichord), and Dr. Keiko Sekino (piano), performing in masterclasses with Dorothy Papadakos, Dr. Janette Fishell, Dr. John Walker, Dr. Ann Labounsky, Dr. Kola Olowabi, and Chris Lane. Additionally, Jacob served in the lab of Dr. Anne Spuches, studying the correlation of pesticide usage with Type II diabetes, using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry techniques to analyze the composition of various mediums, including swine liver, kidney, and fat, as well as human plasma.