Orgiano Duo
Scott Montgomery - organ & Frode Gundersen, piano
Scott Montgomery, organist, and Frode Gundersen, pianist, officially became Orgiano Duo after embarking on a Baltics concert tour in 2018, performing programs in Estonia, Latvia, and Sweden. Prior to this Scott and Frode worked together at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It was during a 9-month construction phase for a new pipe organ that they placed two grand pianos in the sanctuary and played two-piano duets. This eventually led to the exploration of organ-piano repertoire. In 2019, Orgiano Duo embarked on another European concert tour, this time to Belgium, and since then have played concerts in numerous churches and venues across the United States. During the pandemic, Orgiano Duo found a larger audience after producing numerous short concert videos, which were widely viewed and shared on social media. While highlighting the combination of organ and piano, Scott and Frode also perform 4-hand piano and 4-hand organ repertoire. The Duo’s concerts consist of a large variety of music and genre, ranging from compositions by classical composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, Rossini, Grieg, Shostokich; as well as sacred music and new compositions written specifically for the organ and piano; and always a few surprises!
SCOTT MONTGOMERY Acclaimed as a sensitive organist and performer, “completely understanding composer’s compositional styles, and delicate yet commanding use in registering the many colors of the instrument” (American Organist Magazine), Scott Montgomery is Director of Music Ministries and Organist for Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Scott became nationally recognized in 2006 by winning both the Lilian Murtagh Memorial Award (first-prize) and the Audience Prize of the prestigious American Guild of Organists’ National Young Artists Competition in Organ Playing (NYACOP), the first person to win both prizes in the history of the competition. Scott has been a prize winner in several notable competitions including first-prize in the American Guild of Organists’ Region V Competition in Evansville, Indiana (1997), second-prize in the Arthur Poister National Organ Competition in Syracuse, New York (2002). Scott is a member of the Concert Artists Cooperative.
Active as a concert organist throughout the country, Scott has been the dedication artist showcasing new instruments in both church and concert halls, as well as performing for the American Guild of Organists National and Regional Conventions, National Pastoral Musician Conferences, Organ Historical Society (OHS) conventions, and for Pipe Organ Encounters (POE) in the Midwest. His performances have been broadcast on nationally syndicated radio programs “Pipedreams” and “With Heart and Voice.” His debut recording, “Water and Light,” was released in 2009 by the Regent Record label. Most recently, Scott has released his third CD, Organo Plano: Music for a Joyous Occasion,” on the Raven label. Scott received his formal training at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, earning his undergraduate and graduate degrees in organ performance studying with Dr. Dana Robinson.
FRODE GUNDERSEN is Director of Music and Arts at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. Before moving to Little Rock in 2022, Dr. Gundersen served in full-time Music Director positions at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas; Marvin United Methodist Church in Tyler, Texas; Bartlett United Methodist Church in Memphis, Tennessee; and Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, Frode received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Performance from North Dakota State University, Fargo; two Master of Music degrees in Choral Conducting and Sacred Music from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas; and a Doctor of Sacred Music degree from the Graduate Theological Foundation, Mishawaka, Indiana.
Working professionally in Texas for 15 years, Dr. Gundersen conducted the East Texas Symphony Chorus, the Texas Vocal Arts Ensemble, the Tyler Civic Chorus, and served as Chair of Music and Worship for the United Methodist Texas Conference. His choirs have given concerts internationally, including singing for the International Church Music Festivals in Bern, Switzerland and Coventry, England, and for High Mass at the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy. As a pianist, Dr. Gundersen has performed solo recitals and collaborated with professional artists for decades. One of his current collaborations is with renowned Metropolitan opera baritone, Keith Harris. Together they have performed concerts across the country and released an album, “Keep on Climbing.” In 2019, Frode’s solo piano album was released, titled “From the Heart: Sacred Songs and Melodies.”
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