The Bozeman Symphony returns to the Willson Auditorium for its final free livestream concert of the season, Montgomery, Mendelssohn and Bach, featuring its very own principal flute Sue Makeever and the string section of the orchestra. To close a remarkable season of challenges and triumphs, the Symphony presents a thrilling array of music – from classical to contemporary – showcasing the talent of leading female composer Jessie Montgomery, the wildly celebrated J.S. Bach, and the genius of a young Felix Mendelssohn.

Opening this exciting program is acclaimed New York-based composer, violinist, and educator Jessie Montgomery’s contemporary work Strum, a piece that the Washington Post described as “...wildly colorful and exploding with life.” Principal flute Sue Makeever follows with her interpretation of J.S. Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 2, playing seven movements building to an epic finale with one of Bach’s greatest orchestra works. The concert finishes with Felix Mendelssohn’s Sinfonia No. 7, one of twelve string symphonies he wrote between 1821-1822. The audience will listen in awe to his piece when the realization hits that he was only 13 years of age at the completion of this work.

The Montgomery, Mendelssohn & Bach concert will livestream to the Bozeman Symphony’s website, YouTube and Facebook pages on Saturday, April 17, 2021, at 7:30 PM. The Symphony wishes to thank David Ross and Risi for their season sponsorship along with Iris M.L. Model, David and Kippy Sands, and ERA Landmark Real Estate for sponsoring this performance. For more information about the free livestream concert, please contact the Bozeman Symphony at (406) 585-9774 or info@bozemansymphony.org.

Sue Makeever is the principal flute of the Bozeman Symphony, the Intermountain Opera, and the Montana Ballet Orchestra. She retired as the principal flute of the Billings Symphony in 2017, after 22 years of employment. She is a member of many chamber groups, including the Yellowstone Chamber Players and the Bozeman Far Afield ensembles. The highlight of her chamber music experience included a tour of Brazil, with the Kreutzer Trio, through a U.S. State Department grant. Sue teaches part-time at Montana State University. Prior to moving to Montana, she was an Assistant Professor at the University of North Texas. She has taught at MSU - Billings, the Red Lodge Music Festival, Rushmore, Northwest, Illinois, and Northwestern Music Camps. Sue earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois, a Master of Music Performance from Northwestern University, and completed all her course work and recitals toward a Doctor of Music from Florida State University. She has studied with Geoffrey Gilbert, Walfrid Kujala, Charles DeLaney, Kenton Terry, and Jacob Berg. Sue has also had the privilege of attending master classes with James Galway, at the Royal Irish Conservatory in Dublin, Ireland, and Jean-Pierre Rampal, at the Academie d’Ete in Nice, France. Sue is married to retired MSU music professor, Jerry Makeever, and they have two talented children, Matthew and Megan.