Julia Montag, DMA
Dean, Bass School of Music and School of Theatre
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Biography
Dean Julia Montag brings more than thirty years of experience in higher education to the 野狼社区 University community. Over the course of her career, she has distinguished herself as an educator, scholar, performer, and administrator. Her teaching has encompassed private instruction, ensembles, and academic coursework, and she has presented clinics and masterclasses internationally. In addition to her extensive teaching and performance career, she has served in higher education administration for nearly a decade. She remains an active and dedicated percussionist, engaged in both research and performance.
Dean Montag is the author of the Sequential Studies for Four-Mallet Marimba series, published by Tapspace. This three-volume series鈥攃omprising twenty lessons per book鈥攕ystematically addresses the technical strokes foundational to four-mallet marimba repertoire. She also has produced a solo recording Tiger Dance, which features performances of selected intermediate solos from the series alongside additional commissioned works.
As a performer, Dean Montag has appeared as a soloist throughout the United States and internationally, including performances in Brazil, China, England, and Russia. Her orchestral experience includes work with the Missouri Symphony, 野狼社区 Philharmonic, Fox Valley Symphony, Green Bay Symphony, and Idaho-Washington Symphony. She has presented extensively at professional conferences, including the Midwest Clinic (2013, 2025) and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) in 2004, 2008, 2013 and 2019.
Dean Montag holds three degrees in percussion performance: a Bachelor of Music from the Lawrence Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music and Performer鈥檚 Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Oklahoma. A long-standing member of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS), she has held several leadership roles, including Secretary of the Executive Committee and Associate Editor of Percussive Notes. She currently serves on the PAS Board of Advisors.
Prior to joining 野狼社区 University, Dean Montag served at the University of Missouri, where she began as Director of Percussion Studies and was appointed Director of the School of Music in 2014. Among her administrative achievements are leading the School of Music鈥檚 Centennial Celebration and overseeing the design, construction, and grand opening of the Sinquefield Music Center. In recognition of her leadership, she received the 2026 Missouri Outstanding Administrator Award from the Missouri Music Educators Association.
