A graduate of Zane Trace High School near Chillicothe, Ohio, Don attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, graduating in 1965 from the College of Fine Arts with a degree in performance and music education. He began his teaching career in the Logan Elm School District in Circleville, Ohio as an elementary band teacher. In 1966 he was asked to start a string program in the Whitehall Schools in Columbus, Ohio. After two years in Whitehall, Don moved to Newark, Ohio where he started the orchestra program, remaining in this position for 27 years. Don has also performed as principal bass in several symphonies and in backup groups for big name entertainers during his teaching career, and was a member of the faculty at Denison University in Granville, Ohio, as professor of string bass. Retirement in 1995 from the Newark Public Schools saw Don move to Atlanta, Georgia, where he conducted the Peachtree State Symphony and created the Suzuki Chamber Orchestra of Atlanta. After living in Atlanta for two years, he then moved to the Chicago area where he became a certified travel agent, working with S & H Citadel Incentive Travel and finally with Hemisphere Educational Travel, setting up tours for school groups around the world. He has also been an adjudicator in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Georgia and has guest conducted many festivals throughout the United States.

Don is currently teaching in the Barrington Schools in Barrington, Illinois where he lives with his wife Irma and son Matthew.

Don can be reached at 847-707-4033 or at dmontgomery62@comcast.net and is ready to fill your needs in the south-east Illinois area.

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