WOODWIND FACULTY

Jorge Montilla MorenoClarinetist, educator and composer Jorge Montilla Moreno, was praised by The American Record Guide as “somebody who can perform with great enthusiasm and know how to make the repertoire of his native continent jump off the page with effortless technique, subtle dance accents and tasteful vibrato”. His major accomplishments encompass successes in performance, education, and creativity.
 
Montilla Moreno is best known for being a spokesperson for both Latin American music and the Eb clarinet.
 
Jorge Montilla Moreno is the first Latin American clarinetist to record under the distinguished British label “Clarinetclassics”. (0061)
 
Jorge Montilla Moreno is one of the many fine musicians produced by Venezuela’s “El Sistema”.
 
Also found on the major social media networks as clarinetevzla, Jorge is often invited to perform live, with notable partners, in Colleges, music festivals and concert series worldwide.
 
In his personal career, he has appeared as soloist, recitalist, composer and/or pedagogue in stages across the United States, Japan, Martinique, France, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, China, Peru, Spain, Mexico, Italy, Chile, Barbados, Sta. Lucia, Puerto Rico, China, Ecuador and Brazil.
 
Montilla Moreno began his clarinet studies at the age of 10 in his native country Venezuela. A believer in educating younger generations, he has been the Chairman of the Clarinet Department at the Conservatory of Music Simón Bolívar and clarinet professor at the Latin American Academy of Venezuela. In the United States Montilla Moreno’s teaching experience includes teaching at Arizona State University and Longy School of Music of Bard College.
 
Mr. Montilla received a Master Degree and an Artist Diploma from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he studied with Howard Klug. Other notable teachers include Luis Rossi, Eli Eban, James Campbel, Walter Boeykens, Antony Pay and Ricardo Morales.
 
Former Principal Clarinet of the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra, Montilla Moreno was also a founding member and Artistic Director of the Caracas Clarinet Quartet. His many compositions and arrangements have made him one of today’s most pre-eminent composer/arranger for clarinet ensembles.
 
At present, Jorge Montilla is Assistant Professor of Clarinet at the University of Iowa School of Music. He is also a columnist for the International Clarinet Association’s magazine “The Clarinet” and keeps a hectic international career as a soloist and clinician.
 
Jorge Montilla represents: Rossi Clarinets, D’Addario Reeds, Clarinetclassics, Royal Music Products, Lefreque sound bridges, and BG Ligatures. His compositions and arrangements are published by Woodwindiana Editions and Montilla Brothers Editions (co-founded with brother Javier Montilla).
 
Jorge Montilla Moreno is represented worldwide by QuatreKlammer.
 
Reviews
 
 
About Jorge
…Montilla’s playing, and I am not exaggerating, was the smoothest clarinet I have ever heard. The fisrt minute or so of the third movement of “Aires Tropicales” was a soft sound from Montilla, so delicate it stood against the breath of the audience.  The Daily Iowan. February 2022. 
 
 
…Intonation and tone quality are excellent with special credit to Montilla for his light and technically brilliant E-Flat clarinet playing. Kenneth A. Long. The Clarinet. September 2017.
 
 
…Montilla literally wowed the audience with impeccable and refined performances that featured a rare but precious musical taste.
Art-Spettacoli. Monza, Italy. March 2014.
 
…Torin Bakke’s Clarinet Journal. May 2013.
 
 
 …Venezuelan Clarinetist Jorge Montilla shines again with his extraordinary “La Revoltosa”. His sound is beautiful at all times and the performance is both natural and portraits great musical conviction… Montilla’s Eb Clarinet playing is just brilliant. Jorge’s own piece “Registro de Pajarillo” is a jewel. From the first notes one is captivated with the music and Jorge’s both sweet timbre and musical solvency on the Eb. This piece should be mandatory in the repertory for the Eb clarinet. Marco Mazzini. Clariperu, Nov 2011.
 
 
 …Montilla performs with great enthusiasm and knows how to make the repertoire of his native continent jump off the page with effortless technique, subtle dance accents and tasteful vibrato… Patrick Hanudel, American Record Guide, July/Aug 2010.
 
…Montilla is a Top-Flight musician – Like Desenne and Dudamel, he is a veteran of “El Sistema”. The music’s many and varied technical demands do not seem to bother him… He plays as if he has this music in his blood… Raymond S. Tuttle, International Record Review, May 2010.
 
 
 …Mr. Montilla is a splendid, experienced player. He displayed a natural, effortless virtuosity and total command of his instrument’s tonal and expressive resources, communicating strong affinity for the characteristic rhythm, creating atmosphere and mood…
Edith Eisler, New York Concert Review Inc, Summer 2003.
 
 …Montilla’s clarinet caressed the music which unfolded most attractively…
Peter Jacobi, The Herald Times, Bloomington Indiana, October 2003.
 
 
 …A particular highlight throughout the concert was the Eb playing of Jorge Montilla. His musicianship, tone, and intonation on this notoriously difficult instrument were a wonder to the ear…  David Niethamer, Principal Clarinet, Richmond Symphony, Washington DC, April 1999.
 
 … Montilla’s arrangements were crafted with such skill to the Caracas Clarinet Quartet that the music sounded easily idiomatic for these instruments…
Joan Reinthaler, The Washington Post Saturday, April 10, 1999.
 
 
 …That’s scary Eb playing!… Daniel Granados, The Clarinet, 1993
 
 …Montilla’s arrangements to the Caracas Clarinet Quartet: Perhaps the repertoire of the future… Daniel Granados, The Clarinet, 1993.​
 
 
…Jorge Montilla with an exciting performance of the Lutoslawsky’s Dance Preludes…    Penelope Knuth, The Clarinet, February/March, 1991.

 

Jorge Montilla Moreno, MM

Professor of Clarinet

University of Iowa
School of Music
Division of Performing Arts
93 E. Burlington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52242
 
Office: Vox 5000
319.335.1658 (Office)
319.353.2555 (Fax)