Dr. Montano started her musical studies in the Youth Orchestra Network known as El Sistema, in her home country of Venezuela. She continued her music studies in the United States and has been actively involved in the musical scene in the Washington DC Metropolitan area for more than a decade. She has established a strong viola studio and is a former faculty member of Levine Music and Landon School. Dr. Montano’s students have won first prize in multiple competitions and have been principal violists of Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras and Maryland All-State orchestras. In addition, violists from her studio have participated in competitive music festivals such as Interlochen Summer Arts Camp, Tanglewood Institute Viola Workshop, Blue Mountain Music Festival, and Douro Strings Academy.

Dr. Montano enjoys working with the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras (MCYO) where she is Viola Coach, Director of Programs, Director of Chamber Music, and conductor of the Future Stars Orchestra. She is an active orchestra player with the National Philharmonic and Strings Avenue String Quartet. She has collaborated with many colleagues around the world and has taught masterclasses and performed in the United States, Venezuela, Portugal, Italy, Austria, and Germany. She is a former member of the Vox Amadeus Ensemble, Mobile Symphony Orchestra, and Assistant Principal Viola of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Montano holds a Doctorate in Musical Arts and a Master in Music in Viola Performance from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor in Music in Viola Performance from The University of Southern Mississippi.