Bruce Montgomery was born with a silver pitch pipe in his mouth!
In one way or another, through the years Bruce has touched the soul
of every GSSCC performer. One of America’s leading authorities on
Gilbert & Sullivan, he has directed and played leading roles in
all fourteen of the G&S operas throughout the United States and
England, but there is no easy way to itemize Bruce’s credentials
as a composer, actor, narrator, entertainer, author, reviewer,
painter, sculptor, and book illustrator. The Associated Press called
Bruce a "whirlwind of musical and artistic involvements." He’s
graced the front page of the Wall Street Journal. For years he has
been the consummate leader of the G&S Players in Philadelphia, a
society founded by his father. Many of us know him as stage director
of the Chester County Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s major productions
for over 10 years. Others know him for his 50-year tenure with the
University of Pennsylvania, where as beloved director of the Penn
Glee Club and the Penn Singers, Monty was regarded as somewhere
between a delightful deity and a theatrical Mr. Chips. And still
others because he launched their careers when they were midshipmites
or the tiny Hercules! He recently created a company called "Monty, Inc."
which reproduces his watercolors for fine note cards. He also serves
on the boards of four major foundations, is a history buff, a sailboat
crewman, a world traveler, a commercial artist, a lyricist, a member of
the Baker Street Irregulars of New York and a gourmet cook. Bruce "retired"
in 2000 but has not yet discovered the meaning of the word! He walks in
pools of light.
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Training:
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Although his academic training was the customary collegiate route from Bachelor's to Doctorate, Bruce Montgomery is most proud of his training for the Gilbert & Sullivan facet of his life from the true master, James Montgomery, his father, who was one of the leading authorities on the subject in this country.
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Honors & Awards:
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While not precisely "honors or awards," Bruce includes in this category the numerous exciting commissions he has received as both a painter and a composer. Probably his greatest pride in such works were the commissions and premieres by The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and The Philadelphia Singers.
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Bruce's GSSCC Productions:
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Now beginning his eighteenth year with the GSSCC, to date Monty has directed (some several times) our productions of The Yeomen of the Guard, Patience, Cox and Box, The Pirates of Penzance, Ruddigore, The Gondoliers, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Mikado, The Sorcerer, Thespis, Princess Ida, Iolanthe, and will direct our forthcoming The Grand Duke.
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Bruce's Other Productions:
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After his father's death in 1955, Bruce directed the Gilbert & Sullivan Players of Philadelphia for thirty-two years in more than sixty-five productions. And he still puts the company together for special occasions such as its productions in the International G&S Festival in Buxton, England. Since 1972, he has directed The Penn Singers of the University of Pennsylvania in their annual Gilbert & Sullivan productions. In addition to G&S, he also has directed this last in other Broadway shows and operettas for many years. And during his tenure of forty-four years as Director of the University of Pennsylvania Glee Club, he not only directed, choreographed and conducted all of their shows but wrote nearly all of them, as well, as they performed them in thirty countries on five continents.
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Bruce's Personal Remarks:
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OK, so I supplied some of the above material. Gilbert (who always had a cogent word for everything) said "You must stir it and stump it and blow your own trumpet or, trust me, you haven't a chance." But the best things that I might say in my behalf already have been said loud and clear by the fine people with whom I have had the privilege of working over the years through the excellence of their productions.
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Click here to view Bruce's personal web site