“These days, Chicago just makes sense for Montgomery, now 42 and among the most avidly commissioned composers of her generation. Many of her closest collaborators are based here, like violinist Caitlin Edwards and cellist Tahirah Whittington, both of whom play with the all-Black chamber organization D-Composed, and new-music ensemble Fulcrum Point. Her MusicNOW programming has taken a shine to composer-performers — an oddly rare label in today’s classical music landscape, and one the violin-toting Montgomery wears with pride — and welcomed back Chicago-born talents such as cellist Gabriel Cabezas and composer Elijah Daniel Smith.”